Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Two Draft Habitat Conservation Plans and Associated Draft Categorical Exclusions for School Improvement Projects in San Benito and Monterey Counties, CA

Issuing agencies

Abstract

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), have received two applications for incidental take permits (ITPs) for the federally threatened Central California Distinct Population Segment (DPS) of the California tiger salamander and California red-legged frog under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended. Each of the two applicants submitted a permit application which, if issued, would authorize take of the California tiger salamander and California red- legged frog incidental to activities associated with the development and improvement of school facilities in the cities of San Juan Bautista and Salinas in San Benito and Monterey Counties, respectively, in California. As part of the application for an ITP, each applicant submitted a draft habitat conservation plan for their respective project. For each project, the Service prepared a draft screening form in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to evaluate the potential effects to the natural and human environment resulting from issuing an ITP to each applicant for their project. We invite the public and local, State, Tribal, and Federal agencies to comment on the draft screening forms and on the Service's preliminary determination that the proposed permitting actions may be eligible for categorical exclusions pursuant to the Council on Environmental Quality's NEPA regulations, the Department of the Interior's (DOI) NEPA regulations, and the DOI Departmental Manual.