[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 229 (Wednesday, November 29, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Page 69141]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-20230]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service


Final Environmental Impact Statement and Record of Decision for 
Incidental Take of the Endangered Alabama Beach Mouse

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announces the 
availability of a Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS), which 
analyzes the environmental impacts associated with incidental take 
permits that were previously issued under the Endangered Species Act of 
1973 (Act), as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), for take of the 
Alabama beach mouse (Peromyscus polionotus ammobates). The FEIS 
analyzes the consequences of the proposed action and alternatives to 
the proposed action. The incidental take permits, previously issued to 
Gulf Highlands LLC and Beach Club West, involve the construction, 
occupancy, use, operation, and maintenance of two residential/
recreational condominium development projects on the Fort Morgan 
Peninsula in Baldwin County, Alabama. For Record of Decision (ROD) 
availability, see DATES.

DATES: The ROD will be available no sooner than December 29, 2006.

ADDRESSES: Persons wishing to review the FEIS may obtain a copy by 
writing either to the Service's Southeast Regional Office at Regional 
Office, 1875 Century Boulevard, Suite 200, Atlanta, Georgia 30345 
(Attn: Endangered Species Permits), or to the Alabama Field Office at 
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1208-B Main Street, Daphne, Alabama 
36526 (Attn: Darren LeBlanc). Documents will be available for public 
inspection by appointment during normal business hours at both offices.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Aaron Valenta, Regional HCP 
Coordinator (see ADDRESSES above), telephone: 404/679-4144; or Darren 
LeBlanc, Alabama Field Office (see ADDRESSES above), telephone: 251/
441-5859.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On October 8, 2002, we advertised a notice 
of intent to prepare and EIS for this project and requested public 
comment (67 FR 62809). On October 29, 2002, we held a public scoping 
meeting and invited the public to provide relevant information on the 
project. The public comment period ended on November 22, 2002. We 
subsequently reopened the comment period for 15 days between December 
18, 2002 and January 2, 2003 (67 FR 77505). On April 28, 2006, we 
published a notice of availability for the draft EIS with a 90-day 
comment period on the draft EIS (71 FR 25221). We also held a public 
hearing on June 26, 2006. For ROD availability, see DATES.
    The FEIS analyzes the preferred alternative, as well as a full 
range of reasonable alternatives and the associated impacts of each. 
Alternative 5 (Preferred Alternative) concentrates the development on 
the eastern portion of the site and includes a 909-foot corridor 
connecting adjacent primary/secondary dunes and escarpment to the 
Interior. This alternative provides for dedication of 100.8 acres of 
Permittee-owned lands into conservation status via covenants, 
conditions, and restrictions attached to the property, and conditions 
of any incidental take permit that might be issued.
    The environmental review of this project is being conducted in 
accordance with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy 
Act of 1969 as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and its implementing 
regulations (40 CFR parts 1500 through 1508), and with other 
appropriate Federal laws and regulations, policies, and procedures of 
the Service for compliance with those regulations.

    Dated: November 3, 2006.
Cynthia K. Dohner,
Acting Regional Director.
[FR Doc. E6-20230 Filed 11-28-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P