[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 60 (Wednesday, March 28, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18857-18858]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-7370]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R4-ES-2012-N063; 40120-1112-0000-F2]


Final Environmental Impact Statement and Record of Decision for 
Alabama Beach Mouse General Conservation Plan for Incidental Take on 
the Fort Morgan Peninsula, Baldwin County, AL

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announces the 
availability of a final environmental impact statement (EIS), which 
analyzes the environmental impacts associated with issuing, in 
accordance with the proposed General Conservation plan (GCP), 
incidental take permits requested under the Endangered Species Act of 
1973 (Act), as amended, for take of Alabama beach mouse (Peromyscus 
polionotus ammobates). For record of decision (ROD) availability, see 
DATES.

DATES: The ROD will be available no sooner than April 27, 2012.

ADDRESSES: Documents and other information submitted with the 
applications are available for review, subject to the requirements of 
the Privacy Act and Freedom of Information Act, by any party who 
submits a written request for a copy of such documents to either of the 
following offices within 30 days of the date of publication of this 
notice: David Dell, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1875 Century 
Boulevard, Suite 200, Atlanta, GA 30345; or Field Supervisor, Fish and 
Wildlife Service, 1208-B Main Street, Daphne, AL 36526.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. David Dell, Regional HCP 
Coordinator (See ADDRESSES), telephone: (404) 679-7313; or Ms. Shannon 
Holbrook, Field Office Project Manager, at the Daphne Field Office (See 
ADDRESSES), telephone: (251) 441-5871.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Final EIS analyzes the consequences of 
the proposed action, take of the Alabama beach mouse incidental to 
construction of up to 500 single-family developments potentially 
affecting an estimated total of 75 acres of Alabama beach mouse 
habitat, and alternatives to the proposed action. Individual land 
owners who would need incidental take permits (ITP) for single-family 
developments, and whose development proposal fits within limits 
evaluated in the GCP, could apply for ITPs using the GCP provisions 
instead of producing their own habitat conservation plans. The GCP 
evaluates issuance of ITPs with up to 50-year terms under section 
10(a)(1)(B) of the Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). The GCP describes the 
mitigation and minimization measures proposed to address the effects on 
the species. On August 9, 2011, we published a notice of availability 
for a draft EIS (76 FR 48879) for a 90-day public comment period. For 
ROD availability, see DATES. The EIS analyzes the preferred 
alternative, as well as a full range of reasonable alternatives, and 
the

[[Page 18858]]

associated impacts of each. Alternative 3 (Preferred Alternative) would 
implement the GCP as proposed.
    Authority: 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: February 17, 2012.
Mark J. Musaus,
Acting Regional Director.
[FR Doc. 2012-7370 Filed 3-27-12; 8:45 am]
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