The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Williamson County invite public review of a draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and draft habitat conservation plan (HCP) designed to address threatened and endangered species concerns for standard county construction, maintenance and improvement projects.
The documents support Williamson Countys application for an incidental take permit from the Service. The regional permit would provide a simplified process for development projects to comply with the Endangered Species Act while providing for conservation of federally threatened or endangered species. If granted, the 30-year permit would address the golden-cheeked warbler, black-capped vireo and two underground (karst) invertebrates, Bone Cave harvestman and Coffin Cave mold beetle.
A public hearing on the permit will be held on June 16 from 5 to 8 p.m. at The Williamson County Courthouse, Commissioners Court - 2nd Floor West, 710 Austin Avenue in Georgetown. Public comments on the permit application will be received until July 22, 2008.
The ESA recognizes that federally protected species can be harmed during the course of otherwise lawful activities, such as constructing a road. The Service may however, under limited circumstances, issue permits to take federally listed species when such a taking is incidental to - and not the purpose of - otherwise lawful activities and the taking does not jeopardize the continued existence of the species.
A habitat conservation plan that seeks to avoid, minimize and offset harmful effects to listed species is required before a permit can be issued. In deciding whether these criteria have been satisfied and whether the permit should be issued for a given species, the Service considers, among other things, the extent to which the habitat of the affected species or its long-term survivability may be improved or enhanced.
The proposed take would occur in Williamson County, Texas, as a result of otherwise lawful activities including road construction, maintenance, and improvement projects; utility construction and maintenance; school development and construction; public or private construction and development; and land clearing. Such actions cause effects to upland and underground (karst) habitats.
Mitigation for the proposed actions for listed birds includes purchasing up to 1,000 acres of credits in an existing conservation bank for golden-cheeked warbler and purchasing additional land containing habitat for in Williamson County. Mitigation for impacts to karst invertebrates includes acquiring, protecting, and monitoring 9 to 15 areas for conservation of listed species.
Mitigation would be funded from five primary sources: 1) mitigation fees collected from participants; 2) return on endowment investments; 3) County land acquisition funds for parks and open space; 4) County advance funding from road improvement mitigation funds; and, 5) a tax benefit financing program from land developed under the permit.
The draft documents relating to Williamson Countys permit application can be viewed on the internet at http://wilcogov.org/wccf/report.htm or at any library in the county. Compact disks with the documents are available by writing to Adam Zerrenner, Field Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 10711 Burnet Road, Suite 200, Austin, TX 78758; calling (512) 490-0057; or faxing (512) 490-0974.
