Endangered and Threatened Wildlife; Availability of Proposed Low-Effect Habitat Conservation Plan for the Sand Skink, Orange County, FL

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), have received an application for an incidental take permit (ITP) under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended. Meritage Homes of Florida, Inc., is requesting a 5-year ITP for take of the sand skink, which is federally listed as a threatened species. We request public comments on the permit application and accompanying proposed habitat conservation plan as well as on our preliminary determination that the plan qualifies as low effect under the National Environmental Policy Act. To make this determination, we used our environmental action statement and low-effect screening form, which are also available for review.