Press Release
Service Hosts Seven Public Meetings on the Edwards Aquifer Recovery Implementation Program Draft Habitat Conservation Plan and Draft Environmental Impact Statement

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), in cooperation with the Edwards Aquifer Authority; San Antonio Water Systems; the City of New Braunfels, Texas; the City of San Marcos, Texas; and Texas State University (collectively, the Applicants), will conduct seven public meetings to obtain comments on the draft Environmental Impact Statement (dEIS) and an incidental take permit application for the Edwards Aquifer Recovery Implementation Program (EARIP) that includes a draft Habitat Conservation Plan (dHCP).

The EARIP has applied for an incidental take permit under section 10(a)(1)(B) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended. The requested incidental take permit (ITP) would be in effect for a period of 15 years, if granted, and authorize incidental take of eight federally listed species. The proposed incidental take would occur within the boundaries of the Edwards Aquifer Authority (EAA) for irrigation, industrial, municipal and domestic and livestock uses and the use of the Comal and San Marcos spring and river systems for recreational and other activities. The dEIS evaluates the impacts of, and alternatives to, possible issuance of an ITP.

The public meetings are scheduled for 5:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. at each location. The dates and locations are:
 

August 3, 2012
Dunbar Center
801 West MLK St.
San Marcos, Texas 78666
August 6, 2012
San Antonio Water System
Customer Service Building
2800 North Highway 281
San Antonio, Texas 78212
August 7, 2012
Texas AgriLife Extension and Research Center
1619 Garner Field Rd.
Uvalde, Texas 78801
August 8, 2012
New Braunfels Civic Center
375 S. Castell Ave.
New Braunfels, Texas 78130
August 10, 2012
Schreiner University
Cailloux Activity Center
2100 Memorial Blvd.
Kerrville, Texas 78028
August 14, 2012
Harte Research Institute
Texas A&M Corpus Christ
6300 Ocean Drive
Corpus Christi, Texas 78412
University of Houston- Victoria
Multi-Purpose Room
3007 N. Ben Wilson
Victoria, Texas 77901

Public meetings will consist of an Open House/Exhibit Review from 5:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. that will provide an opportunity to view the dHCP, dEIS, and exhibits and to learn more about the proposed action, permit area, and species covered. A presentation of the proposed action and summary of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process will be provided beginning at 6:00 p.m. Citizens are invited to provide written or oral comments in an informal, open-house setting until 8:00 p.m.

Story Tags

Endangered and/or Threatened species
Habitat conservation