Availability of an Environmental Assessment and Receipt of an Application From the City of La Mesa, California, for an Incidental Take Permit

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The City of La Mesa, California, has applied to the Fish and Wildlife Service for a 50-year permit to incidentally take the threatened coastal California gnatcatcher (Polioptila californica californica) and up to 84 other species pursuant to section 10(a)(1)(B) of the Endangered Species Act. Take would occur due to urban growth within the City of La Mesa. The application includes a Subarea Plan (City of La Mesa Subarea Habitat Conservation Plan/Natural Community Conservation Plan) and an Implementing Agreement. The La Mesa Subarea Plan is intended to complement and be consistent with regional planning efforts under the approved Multiple Species Conservation Program for southwestern San Diego County, California. In response to the permit application, the Service has prepared an Environmental Assessment pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act. This assessment and the permit application are available for public review and comment. The Service specifically requests comment on the appropriateness of the ``No Surprises'' assurances contained in the application (sections 9.4, 9.5, 9.6, 9.7, and 9.18 of the Implementing Agreement).