[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 203 (Friday, October 19, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53074-53075]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-22749]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R4-ES-2018-N111; FXES11130400000EA-123-FF04EF1000]


Endangered and Threatened Wildlife; Incidental Take Permit 
Application, Habitat Conservation Plan for the Sand Skink, Lake County, 
FL

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comment and information.

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SUMMARY: We, the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), have received an 
application for an incidental take permit (ITP) under the Endangered 
Species Act. McDonald Ventures XXXVIII, LLC is requesting a 5-year ITP 
for take of the federally listed sand skink incidental to construction. 
We request public

[[Page 53075]]

comment on the permit application, which includes the proposed habitat 
conservation plan, as well as on our preliminary determination that the 
plan qualifies as low-effect under the National Environmental Policy 
Act. To make this determination, we used our environmental action 
statement and low-effect screening form, which are also available for 
review.

DATES: To ensure consideration, please send your written comments by 
November 19, 2018.

ADDRESSES: If you wish to review the application, including the HCP, as 
well as our environmental action statement or low-effect screening 
form, you may request the documents by email, phone, or U.S. mail. 
These documents are also available for public inspection by appointment 
during normal business hours at the office below. Send your comments or 
requests by any one of the following methods.
    Email: [email protected]. Use ``Attn: TE98747C-0.''
    Fax: Field Supervisor, (904) 731-3191, ``Attn: TE98747C-0.''
    U.S. mail: Field Supervisor, Jacksonville Ecological Services Field 
Office, Attn: TE69161C-0, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 7915 
Baymeadows Way, Suite 200, Jacksonville, FL 32256.
    In-person drop-off: You may drop off information during regular 
business hours at the above office address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Erin M. Gawera, telephone: (904) 731-
3121; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We, the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), 
have received an application for an incidental take permit (ITP) under 
the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA; 16 U.S.C. 1531 et 
seq.). McDonald Ventures XXXVIII, LLC (applicant) is requesting a 5-
year ITP to take sand skink (Neoseps reynoldsi) incidental to the 
conversion of approximately 0.25 acres of occupied sand skink foraging 
and sheltering habitat for construction of a commercial development. 
The 9.37-acre project site is located on parcel Number Parcel ID 
numbers 42226000200000400, 42226000200000500, 42226000200000700, 
42226000200000800, and 42226000200000900, within Section 34, Township 
22 South, Range 26 East in Lake County, Florida. The project includes 
the clearing, infrastructure building, and landscaping associated with 
construction. The applicant proposes to mitigate for the take of the 
threatened sand skink by purchasing 0.50 mitigation credits within the 
Lake Wales Ridge Conservation Bank or another Service-approved sand 
skink conservation bank.

Our Preliminary Determination

    We have determined that the Applicant's proposal, including the 
proposed mitigation and minimization measures, would have minor or 
negligible effects on the species covered in the HCP. Therefore, we 
have determined that the incidental take permit for this project would 
be ``low effect'' and qualify for categorical exclusion under the 
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). A low-effect HCP is one 
involving (1) minor or negligible effects on federally listed or 
candidate species and their habitats, and (2) minor or negligible 
effects on other environmental values or resources.

Public Availability of Comments

    Before including your address, phone number, email address, or 
other personal identifying information in your comment, be aware that 
your entire comment--including your personal identifying information--
may be made publicly available at any time. While you may request in 
your comment that we withhold your personal identifying information, we 
cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.

Next Steps

    We will evaluate the HCP and comments we receive to determine 
whether the ITP application meets the permit issuance requirements of 
section 10(a) of the ESA. We will also conduct an intra-Service 
consultation pursuant to section 7 of the ESA. If the requirements for 
permit issuance are met, we will issue ITP number TE98747C-0 to the 
Applicant for incidental take of the sand skink.

Authority

    We provide this notice under section 10 of the Endangered Species 
Act of 1973, as amended (ESA; 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) and the ESA's 
regulations, the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA; 42 U.S.C. 
4321 et seq.) and NEPA regulations (40 CFR 1506.6).

Jay B. Herrington,
Field Supervisor, Jacksonville Field Office, Southeast Region.
[FR Doc. 2018-22749 Filed 10-18-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4333-15-P