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Availability of a Habitat Conservation Plan, Environmental Assessment, and Receipt of an Application for an Incidental Take Permit of Utah Prairie Dog Related to the Development of a 33-Acre Housing Community by West Hills, L.L.C., Cedar City, Iron County, Utah

Note: EPA no longer updates this information, but it may be useful as a reference or resource.


 

Availability of a Habitat Conservation Plan, Environmental

al Register: July 19, 1995 (Volume 60, Number 138)] [Notices]
[Page 37067-37068]
>From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]


DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Availability of a Habitat Conservation Plan, Environmental Assessment, and Receipt of an Application for an Incidental Take Permit of Utah Prairie Dog Related to the Development of a 33-Acre Housing Community by West Hills, L.L.C., Cedar City, Iron County, Utah

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.


SUMMARY: West Hills, L.L.C. (Applicant) has applied to the Fish and Wildlife Service for an incidental take permit pursuant to section 10(a)(1)(B) of the Endangered Species Act (Act) of 1973, as amended. The Applicant has been

[[Page 37068]]
assigned Permit Number PRT-804479. The requested permit, which is for a period not to exceed 2 years, would authorize the incidental take of the threatened Utah prairie dog (Cynomys parvidens). The proposed take would occur as a result of development of a 33-acre housing community on privately-owned property within the city limits of Cedar City, Iron County, Utah.
The Applicant has prepared a habitat conservation plan and an environmental assessment for the incidental take permit application. This notice is provided pursuant to section 10(c) of the Act and National Environmental Policy Act regulations (40 CFR 1506.6).

DATES: Written comments of the habitat conservation plan, permit application, and environmental assessment should be received on or before August 18, 1995.

ADDRESSES: Requests for any of the above documents and comments or materials concerning them should be sent to the Assistant Field Supervisor, Utah Field Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 145 East 1300 South, Suite 404, Salt Lake City, Utah 84115. The documents and comments and materials received will be available for public inspection, by appointment, during normal business hours at the above address. Please refer to Permit Number PRT-804479 in all correspondence regarding these documents.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert D. Williams, Assistant Field Supervisor, (see ADDRESSES above) (telephone (801) 524-5001 extension 124, facsimile (801) 524-5021).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 9 of the Endangered Species Act (Act) of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), prohibits the ``taking'' of any threatened or endangered species, including the Utah prairie dog, However, the Fish and Wildlife Service, under limited circumstances, may issue permits to take threatened and endangered wildlife species if such taking is incidental to, and not the purpose of, otherwise lawful activities. Regulations government permits for threatened and endangered species are at 50 CFR 17.22. West Hills, L.L.C., a small company, wishes to construct 214 housing units on a 33-acre parcel of property in Cedar City, Iron County, Utah. The project also includes installation of associated infrastructures including natural gas, sewer, water, and phone; and development of streets, parking areas, tennis courts, and a club house. Approximately 2 acres on the north side of the property is known to be inhabited by the Utah prairie dog, a threatened species. The Applicant considered a no action alternative. The prairie dogs are situated on the property in such a way that the proposed development cannot be planned to avoid them. Furthermore, this is a small colony surrounded by industrial and residential development, and a State highway. Implementation of the no action alternative would cause loss of use of the private property, resulting in an economic loss.

Authority: The authority for this action is the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) and the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.).

Dated: July 11, 1995.
Terry T. Terrell,
Regional Director, Denver, Colorado.
[FR Doc. 95-17711 Filed 7-18-95; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310-55-M
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