Endangered and Threatened Wildlife; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement To Allow Incidental Take of the Threatened Desert Tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) Under Section 10(a)(1)(B) of the Endangered Species Act and Notice of Public Meetings

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The U.S. Fish and Wildlife (Service) intends to prepare an draft environmental impact statement (DEIS) for incidental take of desert tortoises pursuant to section 10(a)(1)(B) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). A habitat conservation plan (HCP) will be prepared by the applicants. The applicants are Clark County and the cities of Las Vegas, North Las Vegas, Henderson, Mesquite, and Boulder City, Nevada. The Service is initiating the scoping process for preparing the DEIS. Major concerns include the direct, indirect, and cumulative effects that issuance of the proposed permit would have on the desert tortoise and other fish and wildlife resources. This notice is being provided as required by the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA) (40 CFR 1501.7).