🦎Permit Application for Sand Mine Expansion and Endangered Species Compliance
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 Nola Land Company, Inc. (E.R. Jahna Haines City Sand Mine) (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 (skinks) incidental to the construction and operation of a sand mine expansion 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 document outlines an application for an incidental take permit (ITP) related to a sand mine expansion. Business owners must comply with the Endangered Species Act and provide a habitat conservation plan, potentially affecting project timelines and costs. It indicates regulatory requirements and public comment periods, which can influence operational strategies.