Tiny Sand Skinks vs. Florida Schools: Habitat Permit Drama Unfolds
Published Date: 2/20/2026
Notice
Summary
Marion County Public Schools wants permission to build a new project that might accidentally harm the endangered sand skink, a special little lizard in Florida. The Fish and Wildlife Service is reviewing their plan to protect the skinks’ home and is asking the public to share thoughts by March 23, 2026. This process helps balance growth with saving wildlife without costing extra money right now.
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.
10-year permit requested
Marion County Public Schools requested a 10-year incidental take permit to allow take of the federally listed sand skink incidental to building and operating a public school on a 7.06-acre parcel in Marion County, Florida. The request would cover conversion of about 2.51 acres of occupied sand skink nesting, foraging, and sheltering habitat on Parcel #37506-002-00.
Mitigation: purchase 5.02 acres credits
The applicant proposes to mitigate the permitted take by purchasing conservation-bank credits equivalent to 5.02 acres of sand skink–occupied habitat from a Service-approved conservation bank. The Service would require the applicant to purchase those credits before engaging in any phase of the project.
Permit issuance if criteria met
After evaluating comments and completing intra-Service section 7 consultation, the Service will decide whether the Section 10(a)(1)(B) permit criteria are met and, if so, will issue Incidental Take Permit number PER24590859 to Marion County Public Schools. The Service will evaluate the application, mitigation, and effects before making that decision.
Public comment period open
The Fish and Wildlife Service is asking the public to review the Marion County Public Schools incidental take permit application and habitat conservation plan and to send written comments by March 23, 2026. The documents and comments are available online in Docket No. FWS-R4-ES-2026-0034 at https://www.regulations.gov.
Service finds permit is low-effect
The Fish and Wildlife Service preliminarily determined the proposed incidental take permit would be a "low-effect" ITP and may qualify for a categorical exclusion under the National Environmental Policy Act and DOI rules. The Service prepared a draft screening form and NEPA statement for public review as part of that preliminary determination.
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