[Federal Register: September 26, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 186)]
[Notices]
[Page 56166]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr26se06-92]
[[Page 56166]]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
Draft Safe Harbor Agreement With Assurances and Application for
an Enhancement of Survival Permit for the Houston Toad on the Lower
Colorado River Authority (LCRA)/Lost Pines Scout Reservation in Bastrop
County, TX
AGENCY: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability; receipt of application.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: Boy Scouts of America/Capital Area Council (Applicant) has
applied to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) for an
enhancement of survival permit pursuant to section 10(a)(1)(A) of the
Endangered Species Act (Act) of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et
seq.). The requested permit, which is for a period of 15 years,
includes a draft Safe Harbor Agreement (SHA) for the endangered Houston
toad (Bufo houstonensis) in Bastrop County, Texas. We invite public
comment.
DATES: To ensure consideration, written comments must be received on or
before October 26, 2006.
ADDRESSES: Persons wishing to review the application may obtain a copy
by writing to the Regional Director, P.O. Box 1306, Room 4102,
Albuquerque, New Mexico 87103. Persons wishing to review the draft SHA
or other related documents may obtain a copy by written or telephone
request to Paige Najvar, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 10711 Burnet
Road, Suite 200, Austin, Texas 78758 (512-490-0057; Fax 512-490-0974).
The documents will also be available for public inspection, by
appointment only, during normal business hours (8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) at
the Service's Austin office. Comments concerning the draft SHA or other
related documents should be submitted in writing to the Field
Supervisor at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 10711 Burnet Road,
Suite 200, Austin, Texas 78758. Please refer to permit number TE-
133115-0 when submitting comments. All comments received will become a
part of the official administrative record and may be made available to
the public.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paige Najvar at the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, 10711 Burnet Road, Suite 200, Austin, Texas 78758
(512-490-0057; Fax 512-490-0974), or Paige_Najvar@fws.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Applicant has applied to the Service for
a section 10(a)(1)(A) enhancement of survival permit for the endangered
Houston toad in Bastrop County, Texas for a period of 15 years.
The Service has worked with the Applicant to design and implement
conservation activities that are expected to have a net conservation
benefit to the Houston toad in Bastrop County, Texas. Conservation
activities the Applicant will undertake according to the SHA include:
(1) Prescribed burning in every management area on the LCRA/Lost Pines
Scout Reservation in order to control invasive woody understory species
and decrease existing fuel load; (2) brush thinning activities in
forested areas in the eastern, south, and southeastern areas of the
property to control invasive woody understory species and to evaluate
trends in forest floor plant diversity under different brush control
management approaches; (3) restoring and replanting native vegetation
in the eastern, south, and southeastern areas of the property to help
facilitate Houston toad movement; (4) creating shallow, ephemeral ponds
to facilitate and enhance Houston toad breeding success; and (5)
treating red imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta) mounds at newly
constructed ponds. These conservation activities are expected to (1)
facilitate the establishment of native, herbaceous vegetation as well
as expand and enhance potential breeding, foraging, and hibernating
habitats for the Houston toad currently on adjacent and nearby
properties; (2) protect and preserve habitat to enhance the movement of
Houston toads among existing foraging and breeding areas to the south
and southeast of the LCRA/Lost Pines Scout Reservation; (3) create
Houston toad breeding habitat through pond creation; and (4) collect
research data related to the effects of the conservation activities and
planned enhancements to help design future management strategies for
the Houston toad.
The incidental take of Houston toads may occur from (1) habitat
management actions conducted in accordance with the conservation
activities in the Agreement, (2) on-going Boy Scout camp activities
that may have an increased chance of taking the species if toad numbers
increase, as expected, and (3) cessation of the conservation
activities, at some point in the future, if the Applicant exercises
their authorization to do so under the permit.
We provide this notice pursuant to section 10(c) of the Act, the
National Environmental Policy Act (42 U.S.C 4371 et seq.), and its
implementing regulations (40 CFR 1506.6).
Christopher Todd Jones,
Acting Regional Director, Region 2, Albuquerque, New Mexico.
[FR Doc. E6-15708 Filed 9-25-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P