Draft Habitat Conservation Plan and Draft Environmental Assessment; Kaufman Properties, Thurston County, Washington

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), have received an application from Kaufman Real Estate LLC, Kaufman Holdings Inc., and Liberty Leasing & Construction, Inc. (applicants), for an incidental take permit (ITP) pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA). The applicants request a 20-year ITP that would authorize "take" of five listed species incidental to otherwise lawful land development and habitat conservation activities on parcels they own in Thurston County, Washington. The application includes a draft habitat conservation plan (HCP), which describes the actions the applicants will take to minimize and mitigate the impacts of the take on covered species. The Service also announces the availability of a draft environmental assessment (EA) addressing the draft HCP and proposed permit. We invite comments from all interested parties regarding the permit application, including the draft HCP and EA.