The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announced in the Federal Register today the notice of availability of the draft Environmental Impact Statement (dEIS), and an incidental take permit application for the Hays County, Texas, draft Habitat Conservation Plan (dHCP). This announcement begins a 90 day public comment period.
If the permit is approved, the Service would authorize incidental take of the following federally listed species: Golden-cheeked warbler (Dendroica chrysoparia) and black-capped vireo (Vireo atricapilla) for a period of 30 years.
Hays County has developed the dHCP which describes conservation measures to minimize and mitigate incidental take of the golden-cheeked warbler and black-capped vireo that would occur as a result of activities including, but not limited to, public or private land development, transportation projects, or utility projects.
The Service issued a draft Environmental Impact Statement that evaluates the impacts of, and alternatives to, possible issuance of an incidental take permit.
The Service is requesting public comments on the application, dHCP, and dEIS. To ensure consideration, we must receive written comments on or before close of business (4:30 p.m. CST) February 1, 2010. The Service will accept oral and written comments at a public hearing to be held on November 18, 2009, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. CDT at the San Marcos Activity Center, 501 W Hopkins St., San Marcos, TX 78666, (512) 393-8280.
You may obtain copies of the dEIS and dHCP online at http://hayscountyhcp.com/documents.
For further information on how to obtain or review copies of these documents, or how to provide comments, see the Federal Register notice at http://www.fws.gov/southwest/index.html.
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