Fish and Wildlife Service September 12, 2008 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) as the lead agency, together with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) as cooperating agencies, advise the public of the availability of the final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on the application from Coyote Springs Investment LLC (CSI) for a Section 10 incidental take permit pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA), a section 404 permit under the Clean Water Act, and reconfiguration of CSI private and lease lands in Lincoln County. In addition, the EIS includes the proposed action of BLM issuing a right- of-way within the BLM utility corridor, located west of U.S. Highway 93 in Lincoln County for the construction of detention basins. This notice also announces the availability of the CSI Multiple- Species Habitat Conservation Plan (MSHCP), which CSI has submitted as part of their incidental take permit application, and Implementing Agreement (legal contract for the MSHCP). The permit would authorize the incidental take of specified covered species over 40 years, including some that may become federally-listed during the term of the permit. The permit is needed because take of species could occur during CSI's proposed urban development activities located in a 21,454-acre area in southern Lincoln County, Nevada. In addition, take of species could occur during recreation and resource management activities within the 13,767-acre proposed Coyote Springs Investment Conservation Lands (CSICL) in Clark and Lincoln counties. The CSICL is an area leased by CSI from BLM, which would be managed for the conservation of the desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) and other covered species specified in the CSI MSHCP. This notice is provided pursuant to applicable NEPA regulations (40 CFR 1506.6) to inform the public of the proposed action, and to make available for 30 days' review the final EIS, CSI MSHCP, and Implementing Agreement.