Receipt of Applications for Incidental Take Permits for Two Beachfront Developments in Escambia County, FL, 2266-2268 [E6-305]
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Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 9 / Friday, January 13, 2006 / Notices
Applicant: TE–044836, Melvin
Coonrod, Environmental Industrial
Services, Helper, Utah. The applicant
requests a renewed permit to take
Southwestern willow flycatchers
(Empidonax traillii extimus) in
conjunction with recovery activities
throughout the species’ range for the
purpose of enhancing their survival and
recovery.
Applicant: TE–047288, David Peitz,
National Park Service, Republic,
Missouri. The applicant requests a
renewed permit to take Topeka shiners
(Notropis topeka) in conjunction with
recovery activities throughout the
species’ range for the purpose of
enhancing their survival and recovery.
Applicant: TE–047381, Jim Friedley,
Bureau of Indian Affairs, Ignacia,
Colorado. The applicant requests a
renewed permit to take Southwestern
willow flycatchers (Empidonax traillii
extimus) in conjunction with recovery
activities throughout the species’ range
for the purpose of enhancing their
survival and recovery.
Applicant: TE–047529, Stan Johnson,
Colorado Division of Wildlife, Grand
Junction, Colorado. The applicant
requests a renewed permit to display
Bonytails (Gila elegans), Colorado
pikeminnows (Ptychocheilus lucius),
Humpback chubs (Gila cypha), and
Razorback suckers (Xyrauchen texanus)
in conjunction with recovery activities
for the purpose of enhancing their
survival and recovery.
Applicant: TE–049748, Todd Crowl,
Utah State University, Logan, Utah. The
applicant requests a renewed permit to
take June suckers (Chasmistes liorus) in
conjunction with recovery activities
throughout the species’ range for the
purpose of enhancing their survival and
recovery.
Applicant: TE–051814, Dan Miller,
Bramble Park Zoo, Watertown, South
Dakota. The applicant requests a
renewed permit to display Black-footed
ferrets (Mustela nigripes) in conjunction
with recovery activities for the purpose
of enhancing their survival and
recovery.
Applicant: TE–051835, Randy Riches,
San Diego Wild Animal Park,
Escondido, California. The applicant
requests a renewed permit to display
Black-footed ferrets (Mustela nigripes)
in conjunction with recovery activities
for the purpose of enhancing their
survival and recovery.
Applicant: TE–051845, Rene
Hodgekin, Zoo Montana, Billings,
Montana. The applicant requests a
renewed permit to display Black-footed
ferrets (Mustela nigripes) in conjunction
with recovery activities for the purpose
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of enhancing their survival and
recovery.
Applicant: TE–051847, Richard Lattis,
Wildlife Conservation Center, Central
Park Zoo, New York, New York. The
applicant requests a renewed permit to
take Wyoming toads (Bufo baxteri) in
conjunction with recovery activities
throughout the species’ range for the
purpose of enhancing their survival and
recovery.
Dated: December 27, 2005.
Mary G. Henry,
Acting Regional Director, Denver, Colorado.
[FR Doc. E6–304 Filed 1–12–06; 8:45 am]
disadvantage of the threatened species,
and that the covered activities will be
consistent with the purposes and policy
set forth in the Endangered Species Act,
as amended.
Dated: December 20, 2005.
Richard A. Coleman,
Acting Deputy Regional Director, Denver,
Colorado.
[FR Doc. E6–301 Filed 1–12–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–55–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
BILLING CODE 4310–55–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Receipt of Applications for Incidental
Take Permits for Two Beachfront
Developments in Escambia County, FL
Fish and Wildlife Service
AGENCY:
Incidental Take of Threatened Species
for the Livermore County Landowners
Group, Larimer County, CO
Fish and Wildlife Service,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of issuance of permits.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service (Service) has issued the
following permits.
ADDRESSES: Additional information on
these permit actions may be requested
from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Regional Office, P.O. Box 25486, Denver
Federal Center, Denver, Colorado
80225–0486.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Bridget Fahey, Division of Endangered
Species, (303) 236–4258.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On
January 13, 2004, the Service published
a notice in the Federal Register (69 FR
1998) of receipt of an application from
the Livermore Area Landowners Group,
The Nature Conservancy, and the State
of Colorado for permits to incidentally
take, under section 10(a)(1)(B) of the
Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16
U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) as amended,
Preble’s meadow jumping mouse (Zapus
hudsonius preblei), under the terms of
the Livermore Area Habitat
Conservation Plan.
Notice is hereby given that on
November 29, 2005, as authorized by
the provisions of the Endangered
Species Act, the Service issued permits
to Al Johnson of the Livermore Area
Landowners Group (TE–079479–0) and
The Nature Conservancy (TE–115609–0)
with certain conditions set forth therein.
The permits were granted only after the
Service determined that they were
applied for in good faith, that granting
the permits will not be to the
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Fish and Wildlife Service,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
SUMMARY: Searenity Development, Inc.
and Retreat Investments, Inc.
(Applicants) collectively request an
incidental take permit (ITP) pursuant to
section 10(a)(1)(B) of the Endangered
Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act)
(16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). The applicants
anticipate taking Perdido Key beach
mice (Peromyscus polionotus
trissyllepsis) incidental to developing,
constructing, and occupying two
beachfront condominium complexes on
Perdido Key in Escambia County,
Florida (Projects).
The Applicants’ Habitat Conservation
Plan (HCP) describes the mitigation and
minimization measures proposed to
address the effects of both Projects to
the Perdido Key beach mouse. These
measures are outlined in the
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section
below. We announce the availability of
a habitat conservation plan (HCP) and
an environmental assessment (EA) for
the ITP applications. This notice is
provided pursuant to section 10 of the
Act and National Environmental Policy
Act regulations (40 CFR 1506.6).
DATES: Written comments on the ITP
applications, EA, and HCP should be
sent to our Regional Office (see
ADDRESSES) and should be received on
or before March 14, 2006.
ADDRESSES: Persons wishing to review
the applications, HCP, and EA may
obtain a copy by writing the Fish and
Wildlife Service’s Southeast Regional
Office, Atlanta, Georgia. Please
reference permit numbers TE–103097–0,
Searenity and TE–103099–0, Retreat in
such requests. Documents will also be
available for public inspection by
appointment during normal business
hours at the Regional Office, 1875
E:\FR\FM\13JAN1.SGM
13JAN1
hsrobinson on PROD1PC70 with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 9 / Friday, January 13, 2006 / Notices
Century Boulevard, Suite 200, Atlanta,
Georgia 30345 (Attn: Endangered
Species Permits); or Field Supervisor,
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1601
Balboa Avenue, Panama City, Florida
32405.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr.
Aaron Valenta, Regional HCP
Coordinator, (see ADDRESSES above),
telephone: 404/679–4144, facsimile:
404/679–7081; or Lorna Patrick, Field
Office Project Manager, (see ADDRESSES
above), at 850/769–0552, ext. 229.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We
announce applications for ITPs and the
availability of the HCP and an EA. The
EA is an assessment of likely
environmental impacts associated with
these Projects. Copies of these
documents may be obtained by making
a request, in writing, to the Regional
Office (see ADDRESSES). This notice is
provided pursuant to section 10 of the
Act and NEA regulations at 40–CFR
1506.6.
We specifically request information,
views, and opinions from the public via
this notice on the Federal action,
including the identification of any other
aspects of the human environment not
already identified in the EA. Further, we
specifically solicit information
regarding the adequacy of the HCP as
measures against our ITP issuance
criteria found in 50 CFR parts 13 and
17.
If you wish to comment, you may
submit comments by any one of several
methods. Please reference permit
numbers TE–103097–0, Searenity, and
TE–103099–0, Retreat, in such
comments. You may mail comments to
the Service’s Regional Office (see
ADDRESSES). You may also comment via
the internet to aaron_valenta@fws.gov.
Please submit comments over the
internet as an ASCII file avoiding the
use of special characters and any form
of encryption. Please also include your
name and return address in your
internet message. If you do not receive
a confirmation from us that we have
received your internet message, contact
us directly at either telephone number
listed in (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT).
Finally, you may hand deliver
comments to either Service office listed
below (see ADDRESSES). Our practice is
to make comments, including names
and home addresses of respondents,
available for public review during
regular business hours. Individual
respondents may request that we
withhold their home address from the
administrative record. We will honor
such requests to the extent allowable by
law. There may also be other
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15:41 Jan 12, 2006
Jkt 208001
circumstances in which we would
withhold from the administrative record
a respondent’s identity, as allowable by
law. If you wish us to withhold your
name and address, you must state this
prominently at the beginning of your
comments. We will not, however,
consider anonymous comments. We
will make all submissions from
organizations or businesses, and from
individuals identifying themselves as
representatives or officials of
organizations or businesses, available
for public inspection in their entirety.
The areas encompassed under the ITP
applications include two individual
properties, Searenity and Retreat,
consisting of 1.25 and 1.30 acres,
respectively, each covering 100 feet
along the beachfront of the Gulf of
Mexico. The proposed Projects are
located on the western portion of
Perdido Key, a 16.9 mile barrier island.
Perdido Key constitutes the entire
historic range of the Perdido Key beach
mouse.
The Perdido Key beach mouse was
listed as endangered species under the
Act in 1985 (50 FR 23872). The mouse
is also listed as an endangered species
by the State of Florida. Critical habitat
was designated for the Perdido Key
beach mouse at the time of listing (50
CFR 17.95). On December 15, 2005, we
published a proposed revision of critical
habitat for the Perdido Key beach mouse
and Choctawhatchee beach mouse, and
a proposed critical habitat designation
for the St. Andrew beach mouse (70 FR
74425).
The Perdido Key beach mouse is one
of eight species of the old-field mouse
that occupy coastal rather than inland
areas and are referred to as beach mice.
It is one of five subspecies of beach mice
endemic to the Gulf coast of Alabama
and northwestern Florida. Two other
extant subspecies of beach mouse and
one extinct subspecies are known from
the Atlantic coast of Florida. The
Perdido Key beach mouse, like other
beach mouse subspecies, spends its
entire life within the coastal beach and
dune ecosystem.
Beach mouse habitat consists of a mix
of interconnected habitats including
primary, secondary, and scrub dunes
including interdunal areas. Beach mice
are nocturnal and dig burrows within
the dune system where vegetation
provides cover. They forage for food
throughout the dune system feeding
primarily on seeds and fruits of dune
plants including bluestem
(Schizachyrium maritimum), sea oats
(Uniola paniculata), and evening
primrose (Oenothera humifusa). Insects
are also an important component of
their diet.
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2267
Beach mice along the Gulf Coasts of
Florida and Alabama generally live
about nine months and become mature
between 25 and 35 days. Beach mice are
monogamous, pairing for life. Gestation
averages 24 days and the average litter
size is three to four pups. Peak breeding
season for beach mice is in autumn and
winter, declining in spring, and falling
to low levels in summer. In essence,
mature female beach mice can produce
a litter every month and live about eight
months.
The EA considers the environmental
consequences of two alternatives and
the proposed action. The proposed
action alternative is issuance of the
incidental take permit and
implementation of the HCP as submitted
by the Applicants. The HCP would
provide for: (1) Minimizing the footprint
of both developments; (2) restoring,
preserving, and maintaining onsite
beach mouse habitat at both projects; (3)
incorporating requirements in the
operation of both condominium
facilities that provide for the
conservation of the beach mouse; (4)
monitoring the status of the beach
mouse at both projects postconstruction; (5) donating funds
initially and on an annual basis to
Perdido Key beach mouse conservation
efforts, (6) including conservation
measures to protect nesting sea turtles
and non-breeding piping plover, and (7)
funding the mitigation measures.
Several subspecies of beach mice have
been listed as endangered species
primarily because of the fragmentation
of habitat, adverse alteration and loss of
habitat due to coastal development. The
threat of development-related habitat
loss continues to increase. Other factors
contributing to the Perdido Key beach
mouse’s status include low population
numbers, predation or competition by
animals related to human development
(cats and house mice), and the existing
strength or lack of regulations regarding
coastal development.
We will evaluate the HCP and any
comments submitted during our
determination of whether the
applications meet the requirements of
section 10(a) of the Act. If it is
determined that those requirements are
met, the ITPs will be issued for the
incidental take of the Perdido Key beach
mouse. We will also evaluate whether
issuance of the section 10(a)(1)(B) ITPs
complies with section 7 of the Act by
conducting an intra-Service section 7
consultation. The results of this
consultation, in combination with the
above findings, will be used in the final
analysis to determine whether or not to
issue the ITPs.
E:\FR\FM\13JAN1.SGM
13JAN1
2268
Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 9 / Friday, January 13, 2006 / Notices
Dated: December 20, 2005.
Cynthia K. Dohner,
Acting Regional Director, Southeast Region.
[FR Doc. E6–305 Filed 1–12–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–55–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Indian Affairs
Certificate of Degree of Indian or
Alaska Native Blood Information
Collection
Bureau of Indian Affairs,
Interior.
ACTION: Proposed agency information
collection activities; comment request.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: The Bureau of Indian Affairs
is seeking comments from the public on
an extension of an information
collection from persons seeking proof of
American Indian or Alaska Native
blood, as required by the Paperwork
Reduction Act. The information
collected under OMB Control Number
1076–0153 will be used to establish that
the applicants meet requirements for
official recognition as an American
Indian or Alaska native for purposes of
eligibility determination and
participation in programs administered
through the U.S. Bureau of Indian
Affairs.
Submit comments on or before
March 14, 2006.
ADDRESSES: Written comments can be
sent to Ms. Carolyn Newman, Tribal
Enrollment Specialist, Division of Tribal
Government Services, Office of Tribal
Services, Bureau of Indian Affairs, 1951
Constitution Avenue NW., Mail Stop:
320–SIB, Washington, DC 20240.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms.
Carolyn Newman, Tribal Enrollment
Specialist, 202–513–7641.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This
collection was originally approved and
assigned OMB Control No. 1076–0153
when it was submitted with a proposed
rulemaking, 25 CFR Part 70, which was
published in the Federal Register on
April 18, 2000 (66 FR 20775). The
proposed rulemaking has not been
finalized due to various reasons. We
received numerous negative comments
from individuals and Indian tribal
governments. We, therefore, are
rewriting the proposed rule. The Bureau
of Indian Affairs, through the
development of the proposed rule, is
attempting to bring its decision-making
procedures regarding the issuance of
CDIB forms in line with the
Administrative Procedures Act, 5 U.S.C.
553, as mandated by section 552, and as
hsrobinson on PROD1PC70 with NOTICES
DATES:
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15:41 Jan 12, 2006
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directed in the 1986 decision of the
Interior Board of Indian Appeals (IBIA),
Office of Hearings and Appeals, U.S.
Department of the Interior, in Morgan
Underwood, Sr. v. Deputy Assistant
Secretary—Indian Affairs (Operations),
93 I.D. 13, 11 IBIA 3 (IBIA, January 31,
1986). However, there is legal support
for the information collection in that
currently existing Federal laws and
regulations require some form of proof
of Indian blood for various purposes,
including ownership of lands held in
trust by the United States for benefit of
Indian landowners who are members of
federally-recognized Indian tribes
(including Alaska Native villages),
especially at those locations where the
Indian tribe or Alaska native village has
minimum Indian blood degree
requirements for membership.
The public is advised that an agency
may not conduct or sponsor, and a
person is not required to respond to, a
collection of information that does not
display a valid OMB clearance number.
For example, this collection is listed by
OMB as Control No. 1076–0153, and it
expires 7/31/2006. The response is
voluntary to obtain or retain a benefit.
We are requesting comments about
the proposed collection to evaluate:
(a) The accuracy of the burden hours,
including the validity of the
methodology used and assumptions
made;
(b) The necessity of the information
for proper performance of the bureau
functions, including its practical utility;
(c) The quality, utility, and clarity of
the information to be collected; and,
(d) Suggestions to reduce the burden
including use of automated, electronic,
mechanical, or other forms of
information technology.
Please submit your comments to the
person listed in the ADDRESSES section.
Please note that comments, names and
addresses of commentators, are open for
public review during the hours of 8 a.m.
to 4:30 p.m., EST, Monday through
Friday except for legal holidays. If you
wish your name and address withheld,
you must state this prominently at the
beginning of your comments. We will
honor your request to the extent
allowable by law.
Information Collection Abstract
OMB control number: 1076–0153.
Type of review: Renewal.
Title: 25 CFR 70, Request for
Certificate of Degree of Indian or Alaska
Native Blood.
Brief description of collection: To
establish that individual Indians may be
eligible to receive program services
based upon their status and/or degree of
Indian or Alaska Native blood.
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Affected Entities: Individual Indian
Applicants.
Estimated number of respondents:
154,980.
Estimated time per response: 1.5.
Number of Annual Responses:
154,980.
Total annual burden hours: 232,470
hours.
Dated: December 27, 2005.
Michael D. Olsen,
Acting Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary—
Indian Affairs.
[FR Doc. E6–319 Filed 1–12–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–02–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Indian Affairs
Submission of Information Collection
to the Office of Management and
Budget for Review Under the
Paperwork Reduction Act
Bureau of Indian Affairs,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of request for renewal.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: In compliance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act, this notice
announces that the Bureau of Indian
Affairs is submitting an information
collection to the Office of Management
and Budget (OMB) for renewal. The
collection concerns the Application for
admission to Haskell Indian Nations
University and to Southwestern Indian
Polytechnic Institute. We are requesting
a renewal of clearance and requesting
comments on this information
collection.
Written comments must be
submitted on or before February 13,
2006.
DATES:
You may submit comments
on the information collection to the
Desk Officer for Department of the
Interior at the Office of Management and
Budget, by facsimile to (202) 395–6566
or you may send an e-mail to
OIRA_DOCKET@omb.eop.gov.
Please send copies of comments to the
Office of Indian Education Programs,
1849 C Street NW., Mail Stop 3609–
MIB, Washington, DC 20240.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
James Redman, (202) 208–4397.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
ADDRESSES:
I. Abstract
The Bureau of Indian Affairs is
providing the admission forms for
Haskell Indian Nations University and
the Southwestern Indian Polytechnic
Institute for review and comment. These
admission forms are used in
E:\FR\FM\13JAN1.SGM
13JAN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 9 (Friday, January 13, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2266-2268]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-305]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
Receipt of Applications for Incidental Take Permits for Two
Beachfront Developments in Escambia County, FL
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: Searenity Development, Inc. and Retreat Investments, Inc.
(Applicants) collectively request an incidental take permit (ITP)
pursuant to section 10(a)(1)(B) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973,
as amended (Act) (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). The applicants anticipate
taking Perdido Key beach mice (Peromyscus polionotus trissyllepsis)
incidental to developing, constructing, and occupying two beachfront
condominium complexes on Perdido Key in Escambia County, Florida
(Projects).
The Applicants' Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) describes the
mitigation and minimization measures proposed to address the effects of
both Projects to the Perdido Key beach mouse. These measures are
outlined in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section below. We announce
the availability of a habitat conservation plan (HCP) and an
environmental assessment (EA) for the ITP applications. This notice is
provided pursuant to section 10 of the Act and National Environmental
Policy Act regulations (40 CFR 1506.6).
DATES: Written comments on the ITP applications, EA, and HCP should be
sent to our Regional Office (see ADDRESSES) and should be received on
or before March 14, 2006.
ADDRESSES: Persons wishing to review the applications, HCP, and EA may
obtain a copy by writing the Fish and Wildlife Service's Southeast
Regional Office, Atlanta, Georgia. Please reference permit numbers TE-
103097-0, Searenity and TE-103099-0, Retreat in such requests.
Documents will also be available for public inspection by appointment
during normal business hours at the Regional Office, 1875
[[Page 2267]]
Century Boulevard, Suite 200, Atlanta, Georgia 30345 (Attn: Endangered
Species Permits); or Field Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
1601 Balboa Avenue, Panama City, Florida 32405.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Aaron Valenta, Regional HCP
Coordinator, (see ADDRESSES above), telephone: 404/679-4144, facsimile:
404/679-7081; or Lorna Patrick, Field Office Project Manager, (see
ADDRESSES above), at 850/769-0552, ext. 229.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We announce applications for ITPs and the
availability of the HCP and an EA. The EA is an assessment of likely
environmental impacts associated with these Projects. Copies of these
documents may be obtained by making a request, in writing, to the
Regional Office (see ADDRESSES). This notice is provided pursuant to
section 10 of the Act and NEA regulations at 40-CFR 1506.6.
We specifically request information, views, and opinions from the
public via this notice on the Federal action, including the
identification of any other aspects of the human environment not
already identified in the EA. Further, we specifically solicit
information regarding the adequacy of the HCP as measures against our
ITP issuance criteria found in 50 CFR parts 13 and 17.
If you wish to comment, you may submit comments by any one of
several methods. Please reference permit numbers TE-103097-0,
Searenity, and TE-103099-0, Retreat, in such comments. You may mail
comments to the Service's Regional Office (see ADDRESSES). You may also
comment via the internet to aaron_valenta@fws.gov. Please submit
comments over the internet as an ASCII file avoiding the use of special
characters and any form of encryption. Please also include your name
and return address in your internet message. If you do not receive a
confirmation from us that we have received your internet message,
contact us directly at either telephone number listed in (see FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT).
Finally, you may hand deliver comments to either Service office
listed below (see ADDRESSES). Our practice is to make comments,
including names and home addresses of respondents, available for public
review during regular business hours. Individual respondents may
request that we withhold their home address from the administrative
record. We will honor such requests to the extent allowable by law.
There may also be other circumstances in which we would withhold from
the administrative record a respondent's identity, as allowable by law.
If you wish us to withhold your name and address, you must state this
prominently at the beginning of your comments. We will not, however,
consider anonymous comments. We will make all submissions from
organizations or businesses, and from individuals identifying
themselves as representatives or officials of organizations or
businesses, available for public inspection in their entirety.
The areas encompassed under the ITP applications include two
individual properties, Searenity and Retreat, consisting of 1.25 and
1.30 acres, respectively, each covering 100 feet along the beachfront
of the Gulf of Mexico. The proposed Projects are located on the western
portion of Perdido Key, a 16.9 mile barrier island. Perdido Key
constitutes the entire historic range of the Perdido Key beach mouse.
The Perdido Key beach mouse was listed as endangered species under
the Act in 1985 (50 FR 23872). The mouse is also listed as an
endangered species by the State of Florida. Critical habitat was
designated for the Perdido Key beach mouse at the time of listing (50
CFR 17.95). On December 15, 2005, we published a proposed revision of
critical habitat for the Perdido Key beach mouse and Choctawhatchee
beach mouse, and a proposed critical habitat designation for the St.
Andrew beach mouse (70 FR 74425).
The Perdido Key beach mouse is one of eight species of the old-
field mouse that occupy coastal rather than inland areas and are
referred to as beach mice. It is one of five subspecies of beach mice
endemic to the Gulf coast of Alabama and northwestern Florida. Two
other extant subspecies of beach mouse and one extinct subspecies are
known from the Atlantic coast of Florida. The Perdido Key beach mouse,
like other beach mouse subspecies, spends its entire life within the
coastal beach and dune ecosystem.
Beach mouse habitat consists of a mix of interconnected habitats
including primary, secondary, and scrub dunes including interdunal
areas. Beach mice are nocturnal and dig burrows within the dune system
where vegetation provides cover. They forage for food throughout the
dune system feeding primarily on seeds and fruits of dune plants
including bluestem (Schizachyrium maritimum), sea oats (Uniola
paniculata), and evening primrose (Oenothera humifusa). Insects are
also an important component of their diet.
Beach mice along the Gulf Coasts of Florida and Alabama generally
live about nine months and become mature between 25 and 35 days. Beach
mice are monogamous, pairing for life. Gestation averages 24 days and
the average litter size is three to four pups. Peak breeding season for
beach mice is in autumn and winter, declining in spring, and falling to
low levels in summer. In essence, mature female beach mice can produce
a litter every month and live about eight months.
The EA considers the environmental consequences of two alternatives
and the proposed action. The proposed action alternative is issuance of
the incidental take permit and implementation of the HCP as submitted
by the Applicants. The HCP would provide for: (1) Minimizing the
footprint of both developments; (2) restoring, preserving, and
maintaining onsite beach mouse habitat at both projects; (3)
incorporating requirements in the operation of both condominium
facilities that provide for the conservation of the beach mouse; (4)
monitoring the status of the beach mouse at both projects post-
construction; (5) donating funds initially and on an annual basis to
Perdido Key beach mouse conservation efforts, (6) including
conservation measures to protect nesting sea turtles and non-breeding
piping plover, and (7) funding the mitigation measures.
Several subspecies of beach mice have been listed as endangered
species primarily because of the fragmentation of habitat, adverse
alteration and loss of habitat due to coastal development. The threat
of development-related habitat loss continues to increase. Other
factors contributing to the Perdido Key beach mouse's status include
low population numbers, predation or competition by animals related to
human development (cats and house mice), and the existing strength or
lack of regulations regarding coastal development.
We will evaluate the HCP and any comments submitted during our
determination of whether the applications meet the requirements of
section 10(a) of the Act. If it is determined that those requirements
are met, the ITPs will be issued for the incidental take of the Perdido
Key beach mouse. We will also evaluate whether issuance of the section
10(a)(1)(B) ITPs complies with section 7 of the Act by conducting an
intra-Service section 7 consultation. The results of this consultation,
in combination with the above findings, will be used in the final
analysis to determine whether or not to issue the ITPs.
[[Page 2268]]
Dated: December 20, 2005.
Cynthia K. Dohner,
Acting Regional Director, Southeast Region.
[FR Doc. E6-305 Filed 1-12-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P
