Build Homes, Oops-Kill Lizards: Florida Gets Special Permit
Published Date: 5/7/2026
Notice
Summary
The Fish and Wildlife Service got an application from a company planning to build homes in Polk County, Florida, where two special lizards live. They want permission to accidentally harm these lizards during construction but promise to protect their habitat. The public can share thoughts on this plan until June 8, 2026, before any final decisions are made.
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.
10‑Year Permit May Allow Construction
The applicant is seeking a 10-year incidental take permit (ITP) to allow take of threatened sand skink and blue-tailed mole skink incidental to building a multi-phase residential development on 553.64 acres in Polk County, Florida. If the Service issues the permit (potentially ITP number PER21381462), the applicant could proceed with construction that converts about 8.28 acres of occupied skink habitat.
Required Purchase of 16.56 Acres of Credits
The applicant proposes to mitigate the permitted take by purchasing conservation bank credits equal to 16.56 acres of skink-occupied habitat in the Lake Wales Ridge Conservation Bank or another Service-approved skink conservation bank. The Service would require the applicant to purchase those credits prior to engaging in any phase of the project.
Project May Qualify for NEPA Categorical Exclusion
The Service preliminarily determined the proposed ITP would be a low‑effect ITP and may qualify for a categorical exclusion under NEPA, based on a draft screening form and NEPA statement for the Habitat Conservation Plan. The Service found reasonably foreseeable effects would be minor and that extraordinary circumstances in 43 CFR 46.215 do not apply.
Public Comment Window Closes June 8, 2026
The Fish and Wildlife Service is asking for public comment on the ITP application and proposed Habitat Conservation Plan, and it must receive written comments on or before June 8, 2026. Comments and the announced documents are available online in Docket No. FWS-R4-ES-2026-0727 at regulations.gov.
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