🦎Habitat Conservation Plan for Construction Project in Florida
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 Prince Poinciana LLC (applicant) for an incidental take permit (ITP) under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The applicant requests the ITP to take the federally listed threatened sand skink and blue-tailed mole skink incidental to the construction of a single-family residential development 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 (DM). To make this preliminary determination, we prepared a draft screening form and NEPA statement for HCPs, both of which are 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 content involves compliance with the Endangered Species Act regarding the incidental take permit for habitat disruptions during construction. This directly affects the construction plans of Prince Poinciana LLC, including financial commitments for habitat credits. It requires public comment and may involve regulatory approvals that could impact project timelines and costs.