Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants: Extension of Comment Period for Availability of an Environmental Assessment/Habitat Conservation Plan and Receipt of Application for Incidental Take Permit for the City of Austin for the Operation and Maintenance of Barton Springs Pool and Adjacent Springs

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants: Extension of

Comment Period for Availability of an Environmental Assessment/Habitat

Conservation Plan and Receipt of Application for Incidental Take Permit

for the City of Austin for the Operation and Maintenance of Barton

Springs Pool and Adjacent Springs

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior

ACTION: Notice: extension of comment period.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) provides notice

that the public comment period is extended for a Section 10(a)(1)(B)

permit. The City of Austin has applied to the Service for an incidental

take permit pursuant to Section 10(a)(1)(B) of the Endangered Species

Act (Act). The applicant has been assigned permit number PRT-839031.

The requested permit, which is for a period of 15 years, would

authorize incidental take of the endangered Barton Springs salamander

(Eurycea sosorum). The proposed take would occur as a result of the

operation and maintenance of Barton Springs Pool and adjacent springs

in Austin, Travis County, Texas.

The City of Austin has prepared the Environmental Assessment/

Habitat Conservation Plan (EA/HCP) for the incidental take application.

Neither a determination of whether jeopardy to the species is likely to

occur, nor a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) will be made

before April 30, 1998. 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 should be received on or

before April 30, 1998.

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

by writing to the Regional Director, 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 Matthew Lechner, Austin

Ecological Services Field Office, 10711 Burnet Road, Suite 200, Austin,

Texas 78758 (512-490-0057). Documents will be available for public

inspection by written request, by appointment only, during normal

business hours (7:30 to 4:30) at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,

Austin Ecological Services Office, 10711 Burnet Road, Suite 200,

Austin, Texas 78758 (512-490-0057). Written data or comments concerning

the application and EA/HCP should be submitted to the Field Supervisor,

Ecological Services Field Office, Austin, Texas (see address above).

Please refer to permit number PRT-839031 when submitting comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Matthew Lechner at the above Austin

Field Office.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 9 of the Act prohibits the

``taking'' of threatened and endangered species such as the Barton

Springs salamander. However, the Service, under limited circumstances,

may issue permits to take threatened or endangered wildlife species

when such taking is incidental to, and not the purpose of, otherwise

lawful activities. Regulations governing permits for endangered species

are at 50 CFR 17.22.

Applicant: The City of Austin plans to operate Barton Springs pool

and the adjacent springs in Austin, Travis County, Texas. This action

may cause the incidental take of less than 20 salamanders per year for

the 15-year term of the permit. The applicant proposed to minimize and

mitigate for the incidental take of the Barton Springs salamander by

placing 10 percent of the total revenues generated at Barton Springs

Pool into a conservation fund. The fund would be used for enhancing

habitat and for ecological and biological research on the included

habitat conservation plan. In addition, mitigation measures are

included in the Habitat Conservation Plan.

Nancy M. Kaufman,

Regional Director, Fish and Wildlife Service.

[FR Doc. 98-10065 Filed 4-17-98; 8:45 am]

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