98-26306. Notice of Availability of Draft Environmental Impact Statement/ Environmental Impact Report for the Headwaters Forest Acquisition, Habitat Conservation Plan and Sustained Yield Plan

[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 191 (Friday, October 2, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53089-53091]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-26306]



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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 092198B]


Notice of Availability of Draft Environmental Impact Statement/
Environmental Impact Report for the Headwaters Forest Acquisition, 
Habitat Conservation Plan and Sustained Yield Plan

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior; National Marine Fisheries 
Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of availability for public comment.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the availability of a joint draft 
Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report (DEIS/EIR) 
for several proposed actions by the Secretary of the Interior, Fish and 
Wildlife Service (FWS), the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) 
(collectively, FWS and NMFS are ``the Services''), California Wildlife 
Conservation Board, the California Department of Forestry and Fire 
Protection (CDF), and the California Department of Fish and Game 
(CDFG), and alternatives to those actions intended to achieve the 
following: to protect in accordance with the Federal and state 
Endangered Species Acts (ESAs), species listed as threatened or 
endangered under one or both of the ESAs; to provide permanent 
protection for the Headwaters Forest and Elk Head Springs Forest 
through their transfer into public ownership; to provide for sustained 
production of timber products, consistent with federal and state laws, 
on lands owned by The Pacific Lumber Company and its wholly owned 
subsidiaries, Scotia Pacific Company, L.L.C., and Salmon Creek 
Corporation (hereafter collectively referred to as ``PALCO''); and to 
reduce public controversy regarding PALCO's management of its 
timberlands, particularly the Headwaters Forest.

DATES: Written comments on the DEIS/EIR must be received on or before 
November 16, 1998. The dates, locations, and times of four public 
hearings are as follows:
    Tuesday, October 27, 1998, Radisson Hotel Los Angeles West, 
Pacifica Ballroom, 6161 West Centinela, Culver City, CA; from 1:00 p.m. 
to 4:00 p.m., and from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
    Thursday, October 29, 1998, Sacramento Convention Center, 1030 15th 
Street, Rooms 307-308, Sacramento, CA; from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., and 
from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
    Thursday, November 5, 1998, Oakland Marriott Convention Center, 
West Hall, 550 Tenth Street, Oakland, CA; from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., 
and from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
    Tuesday, November 10, 1998, Redwood Acres Fairground, Franceschi 
Hall, 3750 Harris Street, Eureka, CA; from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., 
from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., and from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

ADDRESSES: Comments regarding the DEIS/EIR should be addressed to Mr. 
Bruce Halstead, Field Supervisor, Fish and Wildlife Service, 1125 16th 
Street, Room 209, Arcata, CA 95521-5582. Written comments may be sent 
by facsimile to [phone]. Please see Additional Addresses in the 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for additional information on the 
availability of the DEIS/EIR.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bruce Halstead, Fish and Wildlife 
Service, [phone], or Craig Wingert, National Marine Fisheries 
Service, [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Secretary of the Interior, California 
Wildlife Conservation Board, FWS, NMFS, CDF and CDFG propose the 
following actions:
    (1) Acquisition by the United States and the State of California 
from PALCO of the approximately 4,500-acre Headwaters Forest, which 
includes 2,700 acres of old-growth redwood trees, and the approximately 
1,125-acre Elk Head Springs Forest, which includes about 425 acres of 
old-growth redwood trees;
    (2) Funding by the United States and the State of California of the 
purchase of approximately 9,600 acres of Elk River Timber Company 
property, about 7,755 acres of which will be transferred to PALCO as 
part of the consideration to PALCO for the Headwaters and Elk Head 
Springs Forests, and 1,845 acres of which will be transferred to the 
United States and the State of California and preserved as a buffer for 
the Headwaters Forest. The combined area of the acquired Headwaters and 
Elk Head Springs Forests, plus the Elk River property to be transferred 
to the United States and the State of California, is approximately 
7,500 acres;
    (3) Payment by the United States and the State of California of up 
to $380 million to PALCO and the Elk River Timber Company as payment 
for the Headwaters Forest, Elk Head Springs Forest and the Elk River 
Property;
    (4) Issuance by FWS and NMFS of federal incidental take permits 
covering take of threatened and endangered species on PALCO's 
timberlands based on a habitat conservation plan (HCP) that meets the 
requirements of the federal ESA and other applicable laws and 
regulations;
    (5) Approval by CDF of PALCO's Sustained Yield Plan (SYP), 
including measures and plans addressing state-listed and federally 
listed species;
    (6) Issuance by CDFG of a state incidental take permit that meets 
the requirements of the California ESA and other applicable laws and 
regulations; and
    (7) Execution by CDFG of a streambed alteration agreement pursuant 
to Fish and Game Code Section 1600 to 1607.
    On December 27, 1996, a notice was published in the Federal 
Register (61 FR 68285) announcing the intent to prepare a joint EIS/EIR 
on actions associated with the Headwaters transaction, including 
issuance of incidental take permits under the Federal ESA, and inviting 
comments on the scope of the EIS/EIR. Comments were received and 
considered and are reflected in the DEIS/EIR made available for comment 
through this notice.
    By a Federal Register Notice dated July 14, 1998 (63 FR 39700), the 
Services announced the availability for public review and comment of 
applications for federal incidental take permits filed by PALCO under 
Section 10(a) of the Federal ESA. The applications include a proposed 
HCP and a proposed Implementation Agreement (IA) that address species 
conservation and ecosystem management on approximately 211,700 acres of 
land, primarily in the coastal redwood zone of Humboldt County, 
California, currently owned by PALCO or to be acquired as part of the 
Headwaters transaction. PALCO requests permits to incidentally take six 
federally listed species: the northern spotted owl (Strix occidentalis 
caurina), marbled murrelet (Brachyramphus marmoratus), American 
peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus anatum), bald eagle (Haliaeetus 
leucocephalus), western snowy plover (Charadrius alexandrinus nivosus), 
and coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) and requests that 30 currently 
proposed and other unlisted species be included on the permits.
    The proposed HCP, among other things, is also intended to satisfy 
the requirements for a SYP under California state law and the 
requirements for an

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incidental take permit under section 2081(b) of the California ESA.
    In a subsequent September 23, 1998, Federal Register notice, the 
Services announced that the public comment period on PALCO's proposed 
HCP and SYP, scheduled to close on October 13, 1998, had been extended 
until November 16, 1998, to coincide with the public comment period on 
the DEIS/EIR.
    Because the issuance of an incidental take permit is a Federal 
action, it is subject to review under the National Environmental Policy 
Act (NEPA). An EIS is a document required under NEPA for major Federal 
actions or legislative proposals significantly affecting the human 
environment. The EIS is a decision-making tool that describes 
reasonable alternative actions and the positive and negative effects of 
those actions and of the proposed action.
    Approval of an SYP is a CDF action requiring environmental review 
under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to 
Forest Practice Rules promulgated under the Z'berg-Nejedly Forest 
Practices Act. These rules are a certified regulatory program under 
CEQA. Under these rules, the CDF need not prepare an EIR but may 
prepare a functionally equivalent document. Although not legally 
required, the CDF has elected to prepare an EIR on the SYP.
    Impacts considered under NEPA and CEQA are not limited to species 
listed under the Federal ESA, but include all those affecting the human 
environment. The joint DEIS/EIR also addresses the potential 
acquisition of the lands of a third party, the Elk River Timber 
Company, a portion of which will be transferred to PALCO as part of the 
consideration for PALCO's property.
    The DEIS/EIR analyzes the environmental impacts of the proposed HCP 
submitted by PALCO and four alternatives to the HCP, including the ``no 
action'' alternative. The draft EIS/EIR also analyses the impacts of 
the SYP submitted by PALCO.
    The DEIS/EIR is intended to accomplish the following:
    (1) Inform the public of the proposed action and alternatives;
    (2) Address public comments received during the scoping period;
    (3) Disclose the direct, indirect, and cumulative environmental 
effects of the proposed action and each of the alternatives; and
    (4) Indicate any irreversible commitment of resources that would 
result from implementation of the proposed action.
    The Services invite the public to comment on the DEIS/EIR. All 
comments received will become part of the public record and may be 
released. The public will have 45 days to review and comment on this 
DEIS/EIR. Oral or written comments on this DEIS/EIR may be provided at 
any of the four public hearings. Public Law 105-83 specifies a deadline 
of March 1, 1999, for completion of the Headwaters transaction. In 
order to meet the deadline, the Services anticipate that they will not 
be able to extend the public comment period. This notice is provided 
pursuant to Section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental Policy Act 
of 1969, as implemented by the Council on Environmental Quality 
regulations (40 CFR parts 1500-1508).

Additional Addresses

    Copies of the DEIS/EIR, or portions thereof, can be obtained at the 
following copy centers for duplication and mailing charges: Sir Speedy, 
601 North Market Boulevard, 350, Sacramento, California 95834, (916) 
927-7171; Kinko's, 2021 Fifth Street, Eureka, California 95501, (707)-
445-3334; Kinko's, Stanyan Street and Geary Boulevard, San Francisco, 
California 94118, [phone]; and Kinko's, 835 Wilshire Boulevard, 
Suite 100, Los Angeles, California 90017, [phone]. The DEIS/EIR 
will be available at The California Environmental Resources Evaluation 
System website at http://ceres.ca.gov/ and through the Fish and 
Wildlife Service website at http://www.r1.fws.gov/text/species.html. 
Copies of the DEIS/EIR will be available on compact disc which, along 
with a summary, can be obtained by contacting the Fish and Wildlife 
Service, 1125 16th Street, Room 209, Arcata, California 95521-5582, 
[phone]. The documents are also available for review at the 
following government offices and libraries:

Government Offices

    California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, Humboldt-Del 
Norte Ranger Unit, 118 South Fortuna Boulevard, Fortuna, California 
95540, [phone]; California Department of Forestry and Fire 
Protection, Coast-Cascade Region Headquarters, 135 Ridgeway Avenue, 
P.O. Box 670, Santa Rosa, California 95401, [phone]; California 
Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, State Headquarters, P.O. 
Box 9442446, Sacramento, California 94244-2460, (916) 653- 5843; Fish 
and Wildlife Service, Coastal California Fish and Wildlife Office, 1125 
16th Street, Room 209, Arcata, California 95521-5582, [phone]; 
Fish and Wildlife Service, Sacramento Fish and Wildlife Office, 3310 El 
Camino Avenue, Suite 120, Sacramento, California 95821-6310, (916) 979-
2710; National Marine Fisheries Service, 777 Sonoma Avenue, Room 325, 
Santa Rosa, California 95404-6515, [phone]; and California 
Department of Fish and Game, 619 Second Street, Eureka, California 
95501, [phone].

Libraries

    Alameda Free Library, 2264 Santa Clara Avenue, Alameda, California 
94501-4506, [phone]; Alameda County Library, 2450 Stevenson 
Boulevard, Fremont, California 94538-2326, [phone]; Anaheim 
Public Library, 500 W. Broadway, Anaheim, California 92805-3699, (714) 
765-1810; Berkeley Public Library, 2090 Kittredge Street, Berkeley, 
California 94704-1491, [phone]; California State Library, 
Information and Reference Center, 914 Capitol Mall, Room 301, 
Sacramento, California 95814, [phone]; Colusa County Free 
Library, 738 Market Street, Colusa, California 95932-2398, (530) 458- 
7671; Contra Costa County Library, 1750 Oak Park Boulevard, Pleasant 
Hill, California 94523-4497, [phone]; Del Norte County Library 
District, 190 Price Mall, Crescent City, California 95531-4395, (707) 
464-9793; Humboldt County Library, 1313 Third Street, Eureka, 
California 95501-1088, [phone]; Humboldt State University 
Library, Humboldt State University, Arcata, California 95521, (707) 
826-4939; Lake County Library, 1425 N. High Street, Lakeport, 
California 95453-3800, [phone]; Long Beach Public Library, 101 
Pacific Avenue, Long Beach, California 90822-1097, [phone]; Los 
Angeles Public Library, 630 W. Fifth Street, Los Angeles, California 
90071-2097, [phone]; County of Los Angeles Public Library, 7400 
E. Imperial Highway, Downey, California 90242-7011, [phone]; 
Marin County Free Library, 3501 Civic Center Drive, San Rafael, 
California 94903-4188, [phone]; Mendocino County Library, 105 N. 
Main Street, Ukiah, California 95482-4482, [phone]; Menlo Park 
Public Library, 800 Alma Street, Menlo Park, California 94025-3460, 
[phone]; Mountain View Public Library, 585 Franklin Street, 
Mountain View, California 94041-1998, [phone]; National City 
Public Library, 200 E. 12th Street, National City, California 91950-
3314, [phone]; Newport Beach Public Library, 1000 Avocado 
Avenue, Newport Beach, California 92660, [phone]; Oakland Public 
Library, 125 14th Street, Oakland, California 94612-4397, (510) 238-
3633; Ontario City Library, 215 E. C Street, Ontario, California 91764-
4198, [phone];

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Orange Public Library (under renovation), El Modena Branch Library 
(alternative), 380 S. Hewes, Orange, California 92869, [phone]; 
Orange County Public Library, 1501 E. St. Andrew Place, Santa Ana, 
California 92705, [phone]; Oxnard Public Library, 251 South A 
Street, Oxnard, California 93030-5750, [phone]; Palo Alto City 
Library, 1213 Newell Road, Palo Alto, California 94303-2999, (650) 329-
2516; Pasadena Public Library, 285 E. Walnut Street, Pasadena, 
California 91101-1598, [phone]; Redwood City Public Library, 
1044 Middlefield Road, Redwood City, California 94063-1868, (650) 780-
7061; Sacramento Public Library, 828 I Street, Sacramento, California 
95814-2589, [phone]; San Bruno Public Library, 701 Angus Avenue 
W., San Bruno, California 94066-3490, [phone]; San Francisco 
Public Library, 100 Larkin Street, San Francisco, California 94102-
4796, [phone]; San Jose Public Library, 180 W. San Carlos 
Street, San Jose, California 95113-2096, [phone]; San Mateo 
Public Library, 55 W. Third Avenue, San Mateo, California 94402-1592, 
[phone]; San Mateo County Library, 25 Tower Road, San Mateo, 
California 94402-4000, [phone]; San Rafael Public Library, 1100 
E Street, San Rafael, California 94901-1907, [phone]; Santa 
Barbara Public Library, 40 E. Anapamu Street, Santa Barbara, California 
93101, [phone]; Santa Clara Public Library, 2635 Homestead Road, 
Santa Clara, California 95051-5322, [phone]; Santa Clara County 
Library, 1095 N. Seventh Street, San Jose, California 95112-4446, (408) 
293-2326; Santa Cruz Public Library, 224 Church Street, Santa Cruz, 
California 95060-3873, [phone]; Santa Monica Public Library, 
1343 Sixth Street, Santa Monica, California 90401-1610, [phone]; 
Shasta County Library, 1855 Shasta Street, Redding, California 96001-
0460, [phone]; Siskiyou County Free Library, 719 Fourth Street, 
Yreka, California 96097-3381, [phone]; Sonoma County Library, 
Third and E Streets, Santa Rosa, California 95404-4400, [phone]; 
South San Francisco Public Library, 840 W. Orange Avenue, South San 
Francisco, California 94080-3124, [phone]; Tehama County 
Library, 645 Madison Street, Red Bluff, California 96080-3383, (530) 
527-0607; Trinity County Free Library, 211 N. Main Street, Weaverville, 
California 96093-1226, [phone]; Ventura County Library Services, 
800 S. Victoria Avenue, Ventura, California 93009, [phone]; 
Central Library, 801 SW. 10th Avenue, Portland, Oregon 97205, (503) 
248-5123; Houston Public Library, 500 McKinney Street, Houston, Texas 
77002, [phone]; National Clearinghouse Library, 624 Ninth 
Street, NW, 600, Washington, D.C. 20425, [phone]; and New York 
Public Library, 455 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10016, (212) 340-
0849.

    Dated: September 21, 1998.
Cynthia U. Barry,
Acting Manager, California Nevada Operation Office, Fish and Wildlife 
Service, Region 1, Sacramento, California.

    Dated: September 24,1998.
Kevin Collins,
Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected Resources, 
National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration.
[FR Doc. 98-26306 Filed 10-1-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F