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Environmental Law

: ESA Blawg

Polk County, Florida, proposes Habitat Conservation Plan and mitigation for impacts of wastewater treatment on skinks

By Keith Rizzardi

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73 Fed. Reg. 31140 (Friday, May 30, 2008)(DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR; Fish and Wildlife Service; Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Notice of receipt of an application for an incidental take permit for the expansion of the Sun Ray Wastewater Treatment Facility, Polk County, Florida.)

Photo of the bluetail mole skink by FWS

SUMMARY: We, the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the availability of an incidental take permit (ITP) and Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP). Polk County Utilities (applicants) request an ITP pursuant to section 10(a)(1)(B) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). The applicants anticipate taking about 6.63 acres of sand skink (Neopseps reynoldsi) and bluetail mole skink (Eumeces egregius lividus) skinks) foraging and sheltering habitat incidental to construction activities associated with the expansion of the existing Sun Ray Wastewater Treatment Facility in Polk County, Florida (project). The applicants’ HCP describes the mitigation and minimization measures proposed to address the effects of the project on the skinks. DATES: We must receive your written comments on the ITP application and HCP on or before June 30, 2008.

NOTEABLE EXCERPT: Polk County Utilities is proposing to expand the Sun Ray Wastewater Treatment Facility onto a 37.09 acre site adjacent to the existing facility that would result in the development of 6.63 acres of occupied skink habitat. The applicant proposes to mitigate for impacts by restoring and managing in perpetuity 19.9 acres of scrub habitat on site.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, see FWS HCP database information and FWS South Florida Multi-Species Recovery Plan

Full post as published by ESA Blawg on June 02, 2008 (boomark / email).