Notice of Availability of a Draft Environmental Assessment and Habitat Conservation Plan and Receipt of an Application for an Incidental Take Permit From the Interagency Task Force Proposing the Six Points Road Interchange and Related Development in Mari

This notice advises the public and other agencies of the availability of a draft Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) and Incidental Take Permit (ITP) application for review and comment. The HCP and ITP application were submitted to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) by an Interagency Task Force proposing to construct a new interchange on Interstate 70 (I-70) in the vicinity of Six Points Road and related development in Hendricks and Marion Counties, Indiana. A colony of federally-endangered Indiana bats (Myotis sodalis) occupies the project area during summer and it has been determined that the proposed actions will result in incidental take. On September 28, 2001 the Task Force submitted an application to the Service for a permit for incidental take pursuant to section 10(a)(1)(B) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (Act), as amended (Act, 16 U.S.C. 1531, et seq.). The submission of the (ITP) application required the development of an HCP by the applicants detailing measures to be taken to avoid, minimize, and mitigate impacts to Indiana bats. If issued, the ITP would authorize incidental take of Indiana bats resulting from proposed road construction, commercial development, and airport expansion and improvements. The requested term of the permit is 15 years. Prior to issuing the ITP, the Service is required to analyze alternatives considered in the development of the HCP. This analysis is contained in a draft Environmental Assessment (EA), as required by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), for the Federal action in issuance of a permit under section 10(a)(1)(B) of the Act. This draft EA is also available for public review and comment. This notice is provided pursuant to section 10(a) of the Act and National Environmental Policy Act regulations (40 CFR 1506.6).Copies of the draft HCP and EA may be obtained by making a request to Regional HCP Coordinator, at the address below.