Availability of Draft Environmental Assessment and Receipt of an Application for an Incidental Take Permit for the Ranch View Terrace Project, University of California, Santa Cruz County, CA

Regents of the University of California at Santa Cruz (UCSC) have applied to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service or ``we'') for an incidental take permit (ITP) pursuant to section 10(a)(1)(B) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). We are considering issuing a 60-year permit to the applicant that would authorize take for the federally listed Ohlone tiger beetle (Cicendela ohlone) and the California red-legged frog (Rana aurora draytonii) incidental to otherwise lawful activities associated with the proposed Ranch View Terrace faculty housing development and Emergency Response Center. The proposed take would occur within the southwestern portion of the UCSC campus through the construction and occupation/operation of the proposed Ranch View Terrace faculty housing development, a portion of the proposed Emergency Response Center, and implementation of the habitat conservation plan (HCP). We request comments from the public on the permit application and an Environmental Assessment, both of which are available for review. The permit application includes the proposed HCP and an accompanying Implementing Agreement. The HCP describes the proposed action and the measures that the applicant will undertake to minimize and mitigate take of the red-legged frog and the tiger beetle. To review the permit application or Environmental Assessment, see ``Availability of Documents'' in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section.