[Federal Register: May 9, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 91)]
[Notices]
[Page 26407-26408]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr09my08-88]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-R4-ES-2008-N0077; ABC Code: F2]
Expansion of a Young Men's Christian Association Facility in
Volusia County, FL
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice: Receipt of application for an incidental take permit;
request for comments.
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SUMMARY: We, the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the
availability of an Incidental Take Permit (ITP) Application and Habitat
Conservation Plan (HCP). The Deltona Young Men's Christian Association
Facility (Deltona YMCA) (applicant) requests an ITP for a 2-year
duration under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act).
The applicant anticipates taking approximately 0.30 acre of Florida
scrub-jay (Alphelocoma coerulescens)--occupied habitat incidental to
expansion of an already existing YMCA facility in Volusia County,
Florida (project). The applicant's HCP describes the mitigation and
minimization measures the applicant proposes to address the effects of
the project to the scrub-jay.
DATES: We must receive any written comments on the ITP application and
HCP on or before June 9, 2008.
ADDRESSES: If you wish to review the application and HCP, you may write
the Field Supervisor at our Jacksonville Field Office, 6620 Southpoint
Drive South, Suite 310, Jacksonville, FL 32216, or make an appointment
to visit during normal business hours. If you wish to comment, you may
mail or hand deliver comments to the Jacksonville Field Office, or you
may e-mail comments to paula_sisson@fws.gov. For more information on
reviewing documents and public comments and submitting comments, see
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paula Sisson, Fish and Wildlife
Biologist, Jacksonville Field Office (see ADDRESSES); telephone: 904/
232-2580, ext. 126.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Public Availability of Comments
Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or
other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be
aware that your entire comment--including your personal identifying
information--may be made publicly available at any time. While you can
ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying
information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be
able to do so.
Please reference permit number TE176788-0 for Deltona YMCA in all
requests or comments. Please include your name and return address in
your e-mail message. If you do not receive a confirmation from us that
we have received your e-mail message, contact us directly at the
telephone number listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
Background
The Florida scrub-jay (scrub-jay) is found exclusively in
peninsular Florida and is restricted to xeric upland communities
(predominately in oak-dominated scrub with open canopies) of the
interior and Atlantic coast sand ridges. Increasing urban and
agricultural development has resulted in habitat loss and
fragmentation, which have adversely affected the distribution and
numbers of scrub-jays. Remaining habitat is largely degraded due to the
exclusion of fire, which is needed to maintain xeric uplands in
conditions suitable for scrub-jays. The total estimated population is
between 7,000 and 11,000 individuals.
Applicant's Proposal
The applicant is requesting take of approximately 0.30 ac of
occupied scrub-jay habitat incidental to the project. The 10-ac project
is located within Section 08, Township 18 South, Range 31 East, Volusia
County. The proposed project currently includes the expansion of the
existing YMCA facility to include a new child care facility,
administrative offices, exercise room, indoor basketball courts, and
additional parking. The applicant proposes to mitigate for the take of
the Florida scrub-jay by protecting and managing
[[Page 26408]]
1.3 ac of onsite habitat and creating a public education area within
the preserve to serve the surrounding community. As minimization for
impacts to the species, clearing activities during project construction
will occur outside the scrub-jay nesting season (March 1-June 30) if
active nests are found onsite.
We have determined that the applicant's proposal, including the
proposed mitigation and minimization measures, would have minor or
negligible effects on the species covered in the HCP. Therefore, the
ITP is a ``low-effect'' project and qualifies for categorical
exclusions under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), as
provided by the Department of the 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. A low-effect HCP is one 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.
We 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 we determine that the
application meets those requirements, we will issue the ITP for
incidental take of the scrub-jay. We 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. We will use
the results of this consultation, in combination with the above
findings, in the final analysis to determine whether or not to issue
the ITP.
Authority: We provide this notice under Section 10 of the Act
and NEPA regulations (40 CFR 1506.6).
Dated: April 24, 2008.
David L. Hankla,
Field Supervisor, Jacksonville Field Office.
[FR Doc. E8-10361 Filed 5-8-08; 8:45 am]
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