Fish and Wildlife Service August 28, 2006 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The City of Palm Bay (Applicant) requests an incidental take permit (ITP) pursuant to section 10(a)(1)(B) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). The Applicant prepared a Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) identifying anticipated impacts to two federally-listed threatened species, the Florida scrub-jay (Aphelocoma coerulescens) (scrub-jay) and the eastern indigo snake (Drymarchon corais couperi). The Applicant also requests incidental take authorization for the gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) in the event this species becomes federally-listed as either threatened or endangered during the 30-year term of the requested ITP. Take of these species is anticipated as a result of residential, commercial, industrial, and municipal construction projects and associated infrastructure within the city limits of the City of Palm Bay. The Applicant's HCP describes the mitigation and minimization measures proposed to address the effects of urban development on the scrub-jay, eastern indigo snake, and gopher tortoise. These measures are outlined in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section below.

The public is invited to comment on the following applications to conduct certain activities with endangered species.