[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 92 (Monday, May 13, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20907-20908]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-09711]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[Docket No. FWS-R4-ES-2019-0028; FXES11130400000EA-123-FF04EF1000]


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

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 from the City of Groveland, Florida (applicant), to amend 
an incidental take permit under the Endangered Species Act. The 10-year 
ITP authorizes take of the federally listed sand skink incidental to 
the construction of a fire station and parking lot in Lake County, 
Florida. We request public comment on the application and on our 
preliminary determination that the proposed amendment of the habitat 
conservation plan (HCP) 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: We must receive your written comments by June 12, 2019.

ADDRESSES: 
    Obtaining Documents: You may obtain copies of the documents online 
in Docket No. FWS-R4-ES-2019-0028 at http://www.regulations.gov.
    Submitting Comments: You may submit comments by one of the 
following methods:
     Online: http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the 
instructions for submitting comments on Docket No. FWS-R4-ES-2019-0028.
     U.S. mail or hand-delivery: Public Comments Processing; 
Attn: Docket No. FWS-R4-ES-2019-0028; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 
MS: BPHC; 5275 Leesburg Pike; Falls Church, VA 22041-3803.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Erin M. Gawera, by telephone at 904-
731-3121, via the Federal Relay Service at 800-877-8339, or via email 
at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We, the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), 
have received an application from the City of Groveland, Florida 
(applicant), to amend an incidental take permit no. TE69161C-0 (ITP) 
under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended, (ESA; 16 U.S.C. 
1531 et seq.). The 10-year ITP authorizes take of the federally listed 
sand skink (Neoseps reynoldsi) incidental to the construction of a fire 
station and parking lot in Lake County, Florida. We request public 
comment on the application, which includes the proposed habitat 
conservation plan (HCP), and on our preliminary determination that the 
proposed amendment of the HCP qualifies as ``low-effect'' under the 
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA; 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.). To 
make this determination, we used our environmental action statement and 
low-effect screening form, which are also available for review.
    We issued ITP TE69161C-0 to the applicant authorizing take of the 
sand skink incidental to the conversion of approximately 1.57 acres of 
occupied foraging and sheltering habitat for the construction of a fire 
station and parking lot. The station will be constructed within a 4.61-
acre project site located on parcel Number 19-22-25-000100005200 in 
Section 19, Township 22 South, Range 25 East, Lake County, Florida.
    The applicant is requesting that the Service amend its ITP to 
authorize additional take of the sand skink through the conversion of 
another 0.41 acre (totaling approximately 1.98 acres) of occupied 
foraging and sheltering habitat incidental to the project. The project 
includes clearing, infrastructure building, and landscaping associated 
with construction. To mitigate for take under the ITP, the applicant 
agreed to purchase 3.14 mitigation credits in the Backbone Conservation 
Bank or another Service-approved sand skink bank. The applicant 
proposes to purchase an additional .82 credit (totaling 3.96 credits) 
in the conservation bank to mitigate for additional take of the 
species.

Public Availability of Comments

    All comments, whether received electronically or via hard copy, 
will be posted on http://regulations.gov and become part of the 
decision record associated with this action. 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 available 
to the public. While you can request that we withhold your personal 
identifying information, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do 
so.

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 sand skinks and the environment. Therefore, 
we have preliminarily determined that amendment of the ITP would be 
``low effect'' and qualify for categorical exclusion under 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.

Next Steps

    The Service will evaluate the application to amend the ITP and 
consider all comments received to determine whether to amend the ITP 
application. We will also conduct an intra-Service consultation 
pursuant to section 7 of the ESA. After considering the above findings, 
we will determine whether the requirements of section 10(a)(1)(B) of 
the ESA and 50 CFR 13.23 have been met. If met, the Service will issue 
an amended ITP no. TE69161C-1 to the applicant for incidental take of 
the sand skink.

Authority

    The Service provides this notice under section 10 of the ESA (16 
U.S.C.

[[Page 20908]]

1539) and NEPA regulation 40 CFR 1506.6.

Jay B. Herrington,
Field Supervisor, Jacksonville, FL Field Office, Southeast Region.
[FR Doc. 2019-09711 Filed 5-10-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4333-15-P