🌱Incidental Take Permit Application for Polk County Fire Station
Receipt of Incidental Take Permit Application and Proposed Habitat Conservation Plan for the Sand Skink and Blue-Tailed Mole-Skink; Polk County, FL; Categorical Exclusion
Summary
We, the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce receipt of an application from Polk County Board of County Commissioners (applicant) for an incidental take permit (ITP) under the Endangered Species Act. The applicant requests the ITP to take the federally listed sand skink and blue-tailed mole skink incidental to the construction of a fire station in Polk County, Florida. We request public comment on the application, which includes the applicant's proposed habitat conservation plan (HCP), and on the Service's preliminary determination that the proposed permitting action may be eligible for a categorical exclusion pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Department of the Interior's (DOI) NEPA regulations, and the DOI Departmental Manual. To make this preliminary determination, we prepared a draft screening form and NEPA statement for HCPs, which is available for public review. We invite comment from the public and local, State, Tribal, and Federal agencies.
Agencies
- Interior Department
- Fish and Wildlife Service
Business Impact
$$ - Med
The application for an incidental take permit (ITP) and proposed habitat conservation plan (HCP) directly impact businesses involved in construction and development, especially those within endangered species habitats. Compliance with environmental regulations regarding endangered species could influence project timelines and costs.