Receipt of Incidental Take Permit Application and Proposed Habitat Conservation Plan for the Sand Skink and Blue-Tailed Mole Skink; Osceola County, FL; Categorical Exclusion, 16385 [2021-06352]
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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 58 / Monday, March 29, 2021 / Notices
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS–R4–ES–2021–0020;
FXES11140400000–212–FF04EF4000]
Receipt of Incidental Take Permit
Application and Proposed Habitat
Conservation Plan for the Sand Skink
and Blue-Tailed Mole Skink; Osceola
County, FL; Categorical Exclusion
Fish and Wildlife Service,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability; request
for comments and information.
AGENCY:
We, the Fish and Wildlife
Service (Service), announce receipt of
an application from Lennar Homes LLC
(applicant) for an incidental take permit
(ITP) under the Endangered Species Act.
The applicant requests the ITP to take
the federally listed sand skink and bluetailed mole skink incidental to the
construction of a residential
development in Osceola County,
Florida. We request public comment on
the application, which includes the
applicant’s proposed habitat
conservation plan (HCP), and on the
Service’s preliminary determination that
this HCP qualifies as ‘‘low-effect,’’
categorically excluded, under the
National Environmental Policy Act. To
make this determination, we used our
environmental action statement and
low-effect screening form, both of which
are also available for public review.
DATES: We must receive your written
comments on or before April 28, 2021.
ADDRESSES:
Obtaining Documents: You may
obtain copies of the documents online
in Docket No. FWS–R4–ES–2021–0020
at https://www.regulations.gov.
Submitting Comments: If you wish to
submit comments on any of the
documents, you may do so in writing by
any of the following methods:
• Online: https://www.regulations.gov.
Follow the instructions for submitting
comments on Docket No. FWS–R4–ES–
2021–0020.
• U.S. mail: Public Comments
Processing, Attn: Docket No. FWS–R4–
ES–2021–0020; U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, MS: PRB/3W, 5275 Leesburg
Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041–3803.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Alfredo Begazo, by telephone at (772)
469–4234 or via email at alfredo_
begazo@fws.gov. Individuals who are
hearing impaired or speech impaired
may call the Federal Relay Service at
800–877–8339 for TTY assistance.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We, the
Fish and Wildlife Service, announce
SUMMARY:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:20 Mar 26, 2021
Jkt 253001
receipt of an application from Lennar
Homes LLC for an incidental take
permit (ITP) under the Endangered
Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA;
16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). The applicant
requests the ITP to take the federally
listed sand skink (Neoseps reynoldsi)
and blue-tailed mole skink (Eumeces
egregious lividus) (skinks) incidental to
the construction a residential
development in Osceola County,
Florida. We request public comment on
the application, which includes the
applicant’s proposed HCP, and on the
Service’s preliminary determination that
this HCP qualifies as ‘‘low-effect,’’
categorically excluded, 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, both of which
are also available for public review.
Project
The applicant requests a 10-year ITP
to take skinks through the conversion of
approximately 6.94 acres of occupied
skink foraging and sheltering habitat
incidental to the construction of a
residential development on a 25.01-acre
parcel in Section 14, Township 25
South, Range 27 East, Osceola County,
Florida. The applicant proposes to
mitigate for take of the skinks by
purchasing credits equivalent to 13.88
acres of skink-occupied habitat from a
Service-approved conservation bank.
The Service would require the applicant
to purchase the credits prior to engaging
in any phase of the project.
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
available to the public. While you may
request that we withhold your personal
identifying information, we cannot
guarantee that we will be able to do so.
Our Preliminary Determination
The Service has made a preliminary
determination that the applicant’s
project, including the construction of
single-family homes, paved roads and
driveways, parking and green areas,
storm water ponds, and associated
infrastructure (e.g., electric, water, and
sewer lines) would individually and
cumulatively have a minor or negligible
effect on the skinks and the
environment. Therefore, we have
preliminarily concluded that the ITP for
this project would qualify for categorical
exclusion and that the HCP would be
PO 00000
Frm 00066
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
16385
low effect under our NEPA regulations
at 43 CFR 46.205 and 46.210. A loweffect HCP is one that would result in
(1) minor or negligible effects on
federally listed, proposed, and
candidate species and their habitats; (2)
minor or negligible effects on other
environmental values or resources; and,
(3) impacts that, when considered
together with the impacts of other past,
present, and reasonably foreseeable
similarly situated projects, would not
result in significant cumulative effects
to environmental values or resources
over time.
Next Steps
The Service will evaluate the
application and the comments to
determine whether to issue the
requested permit. We will also conduct
an intra-Service consultation pursuant
to section 7 of the ESA to evaluate the
effects of the proposed take. After
considering the preceding matters, we
will determine whether the permit
issuance criteria of section 10(a)(1)(B) of
the ESA have been met. If met, the
Service will issue ITP number
PER0002540 to Lennar Homes LLC for
incidental take of skinks.
Authority
The Service provides this notice
under section 10(c) (16 U.S.C. 1539(c))
of the ESA and NEPA regulation 40 CFR
1506.6.
Roxanna Hinzman,
Field Supervisor, South Florida Ecological
Services Office.
[FR Doc. 2021–06352 Filed 3–26–21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333–15–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS–R3–ES–2021–0005;
FXES11140300000–212]
Draft Environmental Assessment and
Proposed Habitat Conservation Plan;
Receipt of an Application for an
Incidental Take Permit, Habitat
Conservation Plan for the Hine’s
Emerald Dragonfly, Blanding’s Turtle,
Spotted Turtle, Leafy Prairie Clover,
and Lakeside Daisy, Will County,
Illinois
Fish and Wildlife Service,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability; request
for comment and information.
AGENCY:
We, the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, have received an
application from Hanson Aggregates
Midwest, Inc. d/b/a Hanson Material
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\29MRN1.SGM
29MRN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 58 (Monday, March 29, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Page 16385]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-06352]
[[Page 16385]]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-R4-ES-2021-0020; FXES11140400000-212-FF04EF4000]
Receipt of Incidental Take Permit Application and Proposed
Habitat Conservation Plan for the Sand Skink and Blue-Tailed Mole
Skink; Osceola County, FL; Categorical Exclusion
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comments and information.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: We, the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce receipt
of an application from Lennar Homes LLC (applicant) for an incidental
take permit (ITP) under the Endangered Species Act. The applicant
requests the ITP to take the federally listed sand skink and blue-
tailed mole skink incidental to the construction of a residential
development in Osceola County, Florida. We request public comment on
the application, which includes the applicant's proposed habitat
conservation plan (HCP), and on the Service's preliminary determination
that this HCP qualifies as ``low-effect,'' categorically excluded,
under the National Environmental Policy Act. To make this
determination, we used our environmental action statement and low-
effect screening form, both of which are also available for public
review.
DATES: We must receive your written comments on or before April 28,
2021.
ADDRESSES:
Obtaining Documents: You may obtain copies of the documents online
in Docket No. FWS-R4-ES-2021-0020 at https://www.regulations.gov.
Submitting Comments: If you wish to submit comments on any of the
documents, you may do so in writing by any of the following methods:
Online: https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the
instructions for submitting comments on Docket No. FWS-R4-ES-2021-0020.
U.S. mail: Public Comments Processing, Attn: Docket No.
FWS-R4-ES-2021-0020; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, MS: PRB/3W, 5275
Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041-3803.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Alfredo Begazo, by telephone at (772)
469-4234 or via email at [email protected]. Individuals who are
hearing impaired or speech impaired may call the Federal Relay Service
at 800-877-8339 for TTY assistance.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We, the Fish and Wildlife Service, announce
receipt of an application from Lennar Homes LLC for an incidental take
permit (ITP) under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA;
16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). The applicant requests the ITP to take the
federally listed sand skink (Neoseps reynoldsi) and blue-tailed mole
skink (Eumeces egregious lividus) (skinks) incidental to the
construction a residential development in Osceola County, Florida. We
request public comment on the application, which includes the
applicant's proposed HCP, and on the Service's preliminary
determination that this HCP qualifies as ``low-effect,'' categorically
excluded, 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, both of which are also
available for public review.
Project
The applicant requests a 10-year ITP to take skinks through the
conversion of approximately 6.94 acres of occupied skink foraging and
sheltering habitat incidental to the construction of a residential
development on a 25.01-acre parcel in Section 14, Township 25 South,
Range 27 East, Osceola County, Florida. The applicant proposes to
mitigate for take of the skinks by purchasing credits equivalent to
13.88 acres of skink-occupied habitat from a Service-approved
conservation bank. The Service would require the applicant to purchase
the credits prior to engaging in any phase of the project.
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 available to the public. While you may request that we
withhold your personal identifying information, we cannot guarantee
that we will be able to do so.
Our Preliminary Determination
The Service has made a preliminary determination that the
applicant's project, including the construction of single-family homes,
paved roads and driveways, parking and green areas, storm water ponds,
and associated infrastructure (e.g., electric, water, and sewer lines)
would individually and cumulatively have a minor or negligible effect
on the skinks and the environment. Therefore, we have preliminarily
concluded that the ITP for this project would qualify for categorical
exclusion and that the HCP would be low effect under our NEPA
regulations at 43 CFR 46.205 and 46.210. A low-effect HCP is one that
would result in (1) minor or negligible effects on federally listed,
proposed, and candidate species and their habitats; (2) minor or
negligible effects on other environmental values or resources; and, (3)
impacts that, when considered together with the impacts of other past,
present, and reasonably foreseeable similarly situated projects, would
not result in significant cumulative effects to environmental values or
resources over time.
Next Steps
The Service will evaluate the application and the comments to
determine whether to issue the requested permit. We will also conduct
an intra-Service consultation pursuant to section 7 of the ESA to
evaluate the effects of the proposed take. After considering the
preceding matters, we will determine whether the permit issuance
criteria of section 10(a)(1)(B) of the ESA have been met. If met, the
Service will issue ITP number PER0002540 to Lennar Homes LLC for
incidental take of skinks.
Authority
The Service provides this notice under section 10(c) (16 U.S.C.
1539(c)) of the ESA and NEPA regulation 40 CFR 1506.6.
Roxanna Hinzman,
Field Supervisor, South Florida Ecological Services Office.
[FR Doc. 2021-06352 Filed 3-26-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333-15-P
