Draft Environmental Assessment/Habitat Conservation Plan; Issuance of a Section 10(a)(1)(B) Permit for Incidental Take of the Houston Toad in Bastrop County, TX (George Stokes), 31200-31201 [E6-8451]
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wwhite on PROD1PC61 with NOTICES
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Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 105 / Thursday, June 1, 2006 / Notices
The Florida scrub-jay (scrub-jay) is
geographically isolated from other
species of scrub-jays found in Mexico
and the western United States. The
scrub-jay is found exclusively in
peninsular Florida and is restricted to
xeric uplands (predominantly in oakdominated scrub). Increasing urban and
agricultural development have resulted
in habitat loss and fragmentation which
has adversely affected the distribution
and numbers of scrub-jays. The total
estimated population is between 7,000
and 11,000 individuals.
The decline in the number and
distribution of scrub-jays in east-central
Florida has been exacerbated by
tremendous urban growth in the past 50
years. Much of the historic commercial
and residential development has
occurred on the dry soils which
previously supported scrub-jay habitat.
Based on existing soils data, much of
the historic and current scrub-jay
habitat of coastal east-central Florida
occurs proximal to the current shoreline
and larger river basins. Much of this
area of Florida was settled early because
few wetlands restricted urban and
agricultural development. Due to the
effects of urban and agricultural
development over the past 100 years,
much of the remaining scrub-jay habitat
is now relatively small and isolated.
What remains is largely degraded due to
the exclusion of fire which is needed to
maintain xeric uplands in conditions
suitable for scrub-jays.
The proposed commercial
construction would take place within
Section 05, Township 29 South, Range
37 East, Palm Bay, Brevard County,
Florida. Scrub-jays were located within
the lot during a site visit in October
2004. Scrub-jays using the subject
commercial lot and adjacent properties
are part of a larger complex of scrub-jays
located in a matrix of urban and natural
settings in areas of southern Brevard
and northern Indian River counties.
Construction of the Project’s
infrastructure and facilities would result
in harm to scrub-jays, incidental to the
carrying out of these otherwise lawful
activities. Habitat alteration associated
with the proposed commercial
construction would reduce the
availability of foraging and sheltering
habitat for one family of scrub-jays. The
lot encompasses about 0.77 acre and the
footprint of the building, infrastructure,
and landscaping preclude retention of
scrub-jay habitat. On-site minimization
may not be a biologically viable
alternative due to increasing negative
demographic effects caused by
urbanization.
The Applicant proposes to mitigate
for the loss of 0.77 acre of scrub-jay
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19:10 May 31, 2006
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habitat by purchasing approximately 1.5
acres of occupied scrub-jay habitat off of
the project site, which will be deeded
over to Brevard County Environmental
Lands Program (EELS) for perpetual
management and conservation. The
acquisition of 1.5 acres is sufficient to
replace the occupied scrub-jay habitat at
a ratio of two mitigation acres per one
impact acre.
The Service has determined that the
Applicants’ proposal, including the
proposed mitigation and minimization
measures, will individually and
cumulatively have a minor or negligible
effect on the species covered in the
HCP. Therefore, the ITP is a ‘‘loweffect’’ project and qualifies as a
categorical exclusion under the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), as
provided by the Department of Interior
Manual (516 DM 2, Appendix 1 and 516
DM 6, Appendix 1). This preliminary
information may be revised based on
our review of public comments that we
receive in response to this notice. Loweffect HCPs are those 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. The Applicants’ HCP
qualifies for the following reasons:
1. Approval of the HCP would result
in minor or negligible effects on the
Florida scrub-jay population as a whole.
We do not anticipate significant direct
or cumulative effects to the Florida
scrub-jay population as a result of the
construction project.
2. Approval of the HCP would not
have adverse effects on known unique
geographic, historic or cultural sites, or
involve unique or unknown
environmental risks.
3. Approval of the HCP would not
result in any significant adverse effects
on public health or safety.
4. The project does not require
compliance with Executive Order 11988
(Floodplain Management), Executive
Order 11990 (Protection of Wetlands), or
the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act,
nor does it threaten to violate a Federal,
State, local or tribal law or requirement
imposed for the protection of the
environment.
5. Approval of the Plan would not
establish a precedent for future action or
represent a decision in principle about
future actions with potentially
significant environmental effects.
The Service will evaluate the HCP
and comments submitted thereon to
determine whether the application
meets the requirements of section 10(a)
of the Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). If it
is determined that those requirements
are met, the ITP will be issued for
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incidental take of the Florida scrub-jay.
The Service will also evaluate whether
issuance of the section 10(a)(1)(B) ITP
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 ITP. This notice is provided
pursuant to section 10 of the
Endangered Species Act and National
Environmental Policy Act regulations
(40 CFR 1506.6).
Dated: May 1, 2006.
Cynthia K. Dohner,
Acting Regional Director, Southeast Region.
[FR Doc. E6–8452 Filed 5–31–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–55–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
Draft Environmental Assessment/
Habitat Conservation Plan; Issuance of
a Section 10(a)(1)(B) Permit for
Incidental Take of the Houston Toad in
Bastrop County, TX (George Stokes)
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability; receipt of
application.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: George Stokes (Applicant) has
applied to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service (Service) for an incidental take
permit (TE–126322–0) pursuant to
section 10(a)(1)(B) of the Endangered
Species Act (Act) of 1973, as amended.
The requested permit, which is for a
period of five years, would authorize
incidental take of the Houston toad
(Bufo houstonensis). The proposed take
would occur as a result of the
construction and occupation of a single
family residence, guest home, and
associated structures on a 14.049-acre
(5.68-hectare) property located on Park
Road 1–C, Bastrop County, Texas. We
invite the public to review and
comment on the permit application and
associated draft Environmental
Assessment/Habitat Conservation Plan
(EA/HCP).
DATES: To ensure consideration, written
comments must be received on or before
July 31, 2006.
ADDRESSES: Persons wishing to review
the application may obtain a copy by
writing to the Regional Director, U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service, P.O. Box
1306, Room 4102, Albuquerque, New
Mexico 87103. Persons wishing to
review the draft EA/HCP may obtain a
copy by contacting Scott Rowin, U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service, 10711 Burnet
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Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 105 / Thursday, June 1, 2006 / Notices
Road, Suite 200, Austin, Texas 78758,
(512) 490–0057. Documents will be
available for public inspection by
written request, by appointment only,
during normal business hours (8 a.m. to
4:30 p.m.) at the Service’s Austin office.
Written data or comments concerning
the application and draft EA/HCP
should be submitted to the Supervisor,
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 10711
Burnet Road, Suite 200, Austin, Texas
78758. Please refer to permit number
TE–126322–0 when submitting
comments. All comments received,
including names and addresses, will
become a part of the official
administrative record and may be made
available to the public.
FOR FUTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Clayton Napier at U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service Austin office, 10711 Burnet
Road, Suite 200, Austin, Texas 78758,
(512) 490–0057 or by e-mail,
Clayton_Napier@fws.gov.
The
Applicant has applied to the Service for
a section 10(a)(1)(B) incidental take
permit for a period of five years in order
to authorize incidental take of the
Houston toad.
Section 9 of the Act prohibits the
‘‘taking’’ of endangered species such as
the Houston toad. However, the Service,
under limited circumstances, may issue
permits to take endangered wildlife
species incidental to, and not the
purpose of, otherwise lawful activities.
We provide this notice under section
10(c) of the Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.)
and its implementing regulations (50
CFR 17.22), and the National
Environmental Policy Act (42 U.S.C.
4371 et seq.) and its implementing
regulations (40 CFR 1506.6).
Applicant: The Applicant plans to
construct a single family residence,
guest home, and associated structures
on a 14.049-acre property located on
Park 1–C, Bastrop County, Texas. This
action will eliminate 0.5 acres of
Houston toad habitat and result in
indirect impacts within the lot. The
Applicant proposes to compensate for
incidental take of the Houston toad by
providing $2,000.00 to the Houston
Toad Conservation Fund at the National
Fish and Wildlife Foundation for the
specific purpose of land acquisition and
management within Houston toad
habitat.
wwhite on PROD1PC61 with NOTICES
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[(CA–920–1310–FI); (CACA 46596)]
Proposed Reinstatement of Terminated
Oil and Gas Lease CACA 46596
Bureau of Land Management,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of Reinstatement of
Terminated Oil and Gas Lease.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: Under the provisions of
Public Law 97–451, Summit Ventures,
Inc., timely filed a petition for
reinstatement of oil and gas lease CACA
46596 for lands in Kern County,
California, and it was accompanied by
all required rentals and royalties
accruing from January 1, 2005, the date
of termination.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Bonnie J. Edgerly, Land Law Examiner,
Branch of Adjudication, Division of
Energy & Minerals, BLM California State
Office, 2800 Cottage Way, W–1834,
Sacramento, California 95825, (916)
978–4370.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: No valid
lease has been issued affecting the
lands. The lessee has agreed to new
lease terms for rentals and royalties at
rates of $10.00 per acre or fraction
thereof and 16 2/3 percent, respectively.
The lessee has paid the required $500
administrative fee and has reimbursed
the Bureau of Land Management for the
cost of this Federal Register notice. The
Lessee has met all the requirements for
reinstatement of the lease as set out in
sections 31(d) and (e) of the Mineral
Leasing Act of 1920 (30 U.S.C. 188), and
the Bureau of Land Management is
proposing to reinstate the lease effective
June 1, 2005, subject to the original
terms and conditions of the lease and
the increased rental and royalty rates
cited above.
Dated: May 24, 2006.
Debra Marsh,
Supervisor, Branch of Adjudication, Division
of Energy & Minerals.
[FR Doc. E6–8423 Filed 5–31–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–40–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[(CA–920–1310-FI); (CACA 46599)]
Richard McDonald,
Acting Regional Director, Region 2,
Albuquerque, New Mexico.
[FR Doc. E6–8451 Filed 5–31–06; 8:45 am]
Proposed Reinstatement of Terminated
Oil and Gas Lease CACA 46599
BILLING CODE 4310–55–P
Interior.
VerDate Aug<31>2005
19:10 May 31, 2006
Jkt 208001
AGENCY:
PO 00000
Bureau of Land Management,
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
31201
Notice of reinstatement of
terminated oil and gas lease.
ACTION:
SUMMARY: Under the provisions of
Public Law 97–451, Summit Ventures,
Inc., timely filed a petition for
reinstatement of oil and gas lease CACA
46599 for lands in Kern County,
California, and it was accompanied by
all required rentals and royalties
accruing from January 1, 2005, the date
of termination.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Bonnie J. Edgerly, Land Law Examiner,
Branch of Adjudication, Division of
Energy & Minerals, BLM California State
Office, 2800 Cottage Way, W–1834,
Sacramento, California 95825, (916)
978–4370.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: No valid
lease has been issued affecting the
lands. The lessee has agreed to new
lease terms for rentals and royalties at
rates of $10.00 per acre or fraction
thereof and 16 2/3 percent, respectively.
The lessee has paid the required $500
administrative fee and has reimbursed
the Bureau of Land Management for the
cost of this Federal Register notice. The
Lessee has met all the requirements for
reinstatement of the lease as set out in
sections 31(d) and (e) of the Mineral
Leasing Act of 1920 (30 U.S.C. 188), and
the Bureau of Land Management is
proposing to reinstate the lease effective
June 1, 2005, subject to the original
terms and conditions of the lease and
the increased rental and royalty rates
cited above.
Dated: May 24, 2006.
Debra Marsh,
Supervisor, Branch of Adjudication, Division
of Energy & Minerals.
[FR Doc. E6–8425 Filed 5–31–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–40–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[(NM–920–1310–06); (OKNM 112970)]
Proposed Reinstatement of Terminated
Oil and Gas Lease OKNM 112970
Bureau of Land Management,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of Reinstatement of
Terminated Oil and Gas Lease.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: Pursuant to the provisions of
43 CFR 3108.2–3(b)(2), Apache
Corporation timely filed a petition for
reinstatement of oil and gas lease
OKNM 112970 for lands in Roger Mills
County, Oklahoma, and was
accompanied by all required rentals and
royalties accruing from January 1, 2006,
the date of termination.
E:\FR\FM\01JNN1.SGM
01JNN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 105 (Thursday, June 1, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31200-31201]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-8451]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
Draft Environmental Assessment/Habitat Conservation Plan;
Issuance of a Section 10(a)(1)(B) Permit for Incidental Take of the
Houston Toad in Bastrop County, TX (George Stokes)
AGENCY: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability; receipt of application.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: George Stokes (Applicant) has applied to the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service (Service) for an incidental take permit (TE-126322-0)
pursuant to section 10(a)(1)(B) of the Endangered Species Act (Act) of
1973, as amended. The requested permit, which is for a period of five
years, would authorize incidental take of the Houston toad (Bufo
houstonensis). The proposed take would occur as a result of the
construction and occupation of a single family residence, guest home,
and associated structures on a 14.049-acre (5.68-hectare) property
located on Park Road 1-C, Bastrop County, Texas. We invite the public
to review and comment on the permit application and associated draft
Environmental Assessment/Habitat Conservation Plan (EA/HCP).
DATES: To ensure consideration, written comments must be received on or
before July 31, 2006.
ADDRESSES: Persons wishing to review the application may obtain a copy
by writing to the Regional Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
P.O. Box 1306, Room 4102, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87103. Persons
wishing to review the draft EA/HCP may obtain a copy by contacting
Scott Rowin, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 10711 Burnet
[[Page 31201]]
Road, Suite 200, Austin, Texas 78758, (512) 490-0057. Documents will be
available for public inspection by written request, by appointment
only, during normal business hours (8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) at the
Service's Austin office. Written data or comments concerning the
application and draft EA/HCP should be submitted to the Supervisor,
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 10711 Burnet Road, Suite 200, Austin,
Texas 78758. Please refer to permit number TE-126322-0 when submitting
comments. All comments received, including names and addresses, will
become a part of the official administrative record and may be made
available to the public.
FOR FUTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Clayton Napier at U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service Austin office, 10711 Burnet Road, Suite 200, Austin,
Texas 78758, (512) 490-0057 or by e-mail, Clayton--Napier@fws.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Applicant has applied to the Service for
a section 10(a)(1)(B) incidental take permit for a period of five years
in order to authorize incidental take of the Houston toad.
Section 9 of the Act prohibits the ``taking'' of endangered species
such as the Houston toad. However, the Service, under limited
circumstances, may issue permits to take endangered wildlife species
incidental to, and not the purpose of, otherwise lawful activities.
We provide this notice under section 10(c) of the Act (16 U.S.C.
1531 et seq.) and its implementing regulations (50 CFR 17.22), and the
National Environmental Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 4371 et seq.) and its
implementing regulations (40 CFR 1506.6).
Applicant: The Applicant plans to construct a single family
residence, guest home, and associated structures on a 14.049-acre
property located on Park 1-C, Bastrop County, Texas. This action will
eliminate 0.5 acres of Houston toad habitat and result in indirect
impacts within the lot. The Applicant proposes to compensate for
incidental take of the Houston toad by providing $2,000.00 to the
Houston Toad Conservation Fund at the National Fish and Wildlife
Foundation for the specific purpose of land acquisition and management
within Houston toad habitat.
Richard McDonald,
Acting Regional Director, Region 2, Albuquerque, New Mexico.
[FR Doc. E6-8451 Filed 5-31-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P
