Availability of an Environmental Assessment/Habitat Conservation Plan and Receipt of an Application for an Incidental Take Permit for the Proposed Spicewood at Bull Creek and Canyon Mesa Developments, Austin, Travis County, TX

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Availability of an Environmental Assessment/Habitat Conservation

Plan and Receipt of an Application for an Incidental Take Permit for

the Proposed Spicewood at Bull Creek and Canyon Mesa Developments,

Austin, Travis County, TX

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: Richland Bull Creek Associates (Applicant) has applied to the

Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) for an incidental take permit

pursuant to Section 10(a) of the Endangered Species Act (Act). The

Applicant has been assigned Permit Number PRT-783564. The requested

permit, which is for a period not to exceed 30 years, would authorize

the incidental take of the endangered golden-cheeked warbler (Dendroica

chrysoparia). The proposed take would occur as a result of construction

of a residential development on 196 acres, in Austin, Travis County,

Texas. The proposed development will permanently eliminate about 176

acres of occupied and/or potential endangered species habitat.

The Service has prepared an environmental assessment (EA) and

habitat conservation plan (HCP) for the incidental take application. A

determination of jeopardy to the species or a Finding of No Significant

Impact (FONSI) will not be made before 30 days from the date of the

publication of this notice. This notice is provided pursuant to Section

10(c) of the Act and National Environmental Policy Act regulations (40

CFR 1506.6).

DATES: Written comments on the application and EA/HCP should be

received on or before July 18, 1994.

ADDRESSES: Persons wishing to review the application may obtain a copy

by writing to the Assistant Regional Director, Ecological Services,

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, P.O. Box 1306, Albuquerque, New Mexico

87103. Persons wishing to review the EA/HCP may obtain a copy by

contacting Robert B. Simpson, Ecological Services Field Office, U.S.

Fish and Wildlife Service, 611 East Sixth Street, Suite 407, Austin,

Texas 78701. Documents will be available by written request from the

address below or for public inspection during normal business hours

(8:00 to 4:30) at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Austin Ecological

Services Field Office (8:00 to 4:30). Written data or comments

concerning the application and EA/HCP should be submitted to Field

Supervisor, Austin Ecological Services Field Office, at the address

below. Please refer to Permit Number PRT-783564 when submitting

comments.

Austin Ecological Services Field Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife

Service, 611 East Sixth Street, Suite 407, Austin, Texas 78701.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert B. Simpson at the Austin

Ecological Services Field Office at (512) 482-5436.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A Habitat Conservation Plan has been

developed as mitigation for the incidental taking of the golden-cheeked

warbler. The Applicant proposes to mitigate the incidental take via

dedicating 260 acres of occupied golden-cheeked warbler habitat as a

permanent preserve, providing funding for the operation and management

of the preserve lands, performing golden-cheeked warbler monitoring and

research studies on the preserve and project lands, and avoiding

construction activities within warbler territories during the breeding

season. Details of the mitigation are provided in the Environmental

Assessment and Habitat Conservation Plan for the Spicewood at Bull

Creek and Canyon Mesa Developments. A determination of jeopardy to the

species or a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) will not be made

before 30 days from the date of publication of this notice. This notice

is provided pursuant to Section 10(c) of the Act and National

Environmental Policy Act regulations (40 CFR 1506.6). The Applicant

considered four alternatives, but rejected three of them.

James A. Young,

Assistant Regional Director, Ecological Services, U.S. Fish and

Wildlife Service, Southwest Region (2), Albuquerque, New Mexico.

[FR Doc. 94-14760 Filed 6-16-94; 8:45 am]

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