83 FR 40548 - Endangered and Threatened Wildlife; Incidental Take Permit Application, Habitat Conservation Plan for the Alabama Beach Mouse, and Environmental Assessment for Gulf Place East Parking Lot in Gulf Shores, AL

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 158 (August 15, 2018)

We, the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), have received an application for an incidental take permit (ITP) under the Endangered Species Act. The city of Gulf Shores, Alabama, is requesting a 30-year ITP for take of the federally listed Alabama beach mouse incidental to construction. We request public comments on the permit application, which includes a proposed habitat conservation plan, and an environmental assessment prepared in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act.

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 158 (Wednesday, August 15, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40548-40549]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-17606]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R4-ES-2018-N097; FXES11140400000-178-FF04EF2000]


Endangered and Threatened Wildlife; Incidental Take Permit 
Application, Habitat Conservation Plan for the Alabama Beach Mouse, and 
Environmental Assessment for Gulf Place East Parking Lot in Gulf 
Shores, AL

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comments and information.

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SUMMARY: We, the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), have received an 
application for an incidental take permit (ITP) under the Endangered 
Species Act. The city of Gulf Shores, Alabama, is requesting a 30-year 
ITP for take of the federally listed Alabama beach mouse incidental to 
construction. We request public comments on the permit application, 
which includes a proposed habitat conservation plan, and an 
environmental assessment prepared in accordance with the National 
Environmental Policy Act.

DATES: To ensure consideration, please send your written comments by 
September 14, 2018.

ADDRESSES: You may submit written comments and request copies of the 
application, including the HCP, and the EA by any one of the following 
methods:
    U.S. mail: Alabama Ecological Services Office, Attn: Permit number 
TE84363C; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; 1208 Main Street, Daphne, AL 
36526; or Atlanta Regional Office, Attn: Permit number TE84363C; U.S. 
Fish and Wildlife Service; 1875 Century Boulevard, Atlanta, GA 30345.
    In-person: You may deliver comments during regular business hours 
at either of the office addresses listed above under U.S. mail. You may 
inspect the application, HCP, and EA by appointment during normal 
business hours at the same locations.
    Email: You may email comments to [email protected]. Please include 
your name and email address in your email message. Use ``Attn: Permit 
number TE84363C'' in the subject line of your email message. If you do 
not receive an email from us confirming that we received your email 
message, contact us directly at either telephone number in FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. David Dell, Regional HCP 
Coordinator, at the Atlanta Regional Office (see ADDRESSES) or by 
telephone at 404-679-7313, or Mr. William Lynn, Project Manager, at the 
Alabama Ecological Services Office (see ADDRESSES) or by telephone at 
251-441-5868. If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf 
(TDD), please call the Federal Relay Service at 800-877-8339.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We, the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), 
have received an application for an incidental take permit (ITP) under 
the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA; 16 U.S.C. 1531 et 
seq.). The city of Gulf Shores, Alabama (applicant), is requesting a 
30-year ITP for take of the federally listed Alabama beach mouse 
(Peromyscus polionotus ammobates) (covered species) incidental to the 
construction of the Gulf Place East parking lot and amenities on a 
4.14-acre property in Gulf Shores, Baldwin County, Alabama. We request 
public comments on the permit application, which includes a proposed 
habitat conservation plan (HCP), and an environmental assessment (EA) 
prepared in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA; 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.).
    The applicant's HCP describes the activities that will be 
undertaken to construct the parking lot, as well as the mitigation and 
minimization measures proposed to address the impacts to the covered 
species. Pursuant to NEPA, the EA analyzes the impacts that ITP 
issuance would have on the covered species and the environment.

Environmental Assessment

    The EA assesses the likely environmental impacts associated with

[[Page 40549]]

the implementation of the activities described in the HCP (proposed 
action), including the consequences of the no-action alternative, the 
construction of the parking lot with no conservation measures 
alternative, and the proposed action. The proposed action also includes 
issuance of the ITP and implementation of the HCP as submitted by the 
applicant. The applicant anticipates that the proposed action would 
result in the loss of approximately 0.89 acres of occupied Alabama 
beach mouse habitat within the 1.40-acre footprint of the project.

Habitat Conservation Plan

    The HCP covered area consists of 4.14 acres of land owned by the 
applicant. The HCP includes measures to avoid, minimize, and mitigate 
impacts to the Alabama beach mouse from construction of the parking 
lot. To minimize impacts to the covered species and its habitat, the 
applicant reduced the footprint of the parking lot. Other avoidance, 
minimization, and mitigation measures include, but are not limited to, 
trapping and relocating the species, dune enhancement and restoration, 
installation of sand fencing, and creation of a dune enhancement fund. 
The dune enhancement fund would be used to enhance habitat elsewhere 
within the city limits of Gulf Shores where Alabama beach mice may be 
found.

Public Comments

    If you wish to comment on the permit application, HCP, or EA, you 
may submit comments by any one of the methods listed in ADDRESSES.

Public Availability of Comments

    Before including your address, phone number, email address, or 
other personal identifying information in your comment, be aware that 
your entire comment--including your personal identifying information--
may be made publicly available at any time. While you may request in 
your comment that we withhold your personal identifying information, we 
cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.

Next Steps

    We will evaluate the HCP, EA, and your comments to determine 
whether the ITP application meets the permit issuance requirements of 
section 10(a) of the ESA. We will also conduct an intra-Service 
consultation pursuant to section 7 of the ESA. If the requirements for 
permit issuance are met, we will issue ITP number TE84363C-0 to the 
applicant for incidental take of the Alabama beach mouse.

Authority

    We provide this notice under section 10 of the Endangered Species 
Act of 1973, as amended (ESA; 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) and the ESA's 
regulations, the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA; 42 U.S.C. 
4321 et seq.) and NEPA regulations (40 CFR 1506.6).

Mike Oetker,
Acting Regional Director.
[FR Doc. 2018-17606 Filed 8-14-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4333-15-P