[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 26 (Tuesday, February 9, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6325-6326]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-3130]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[I.D. 012599D]
Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement
Regarding Proposed Issuance of an Incidental Take Permit to Simpson
Timber Company, Northwest Operations, for Forest Management in
Thurston, Mason, and Grays Harbor Counties, Washington
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration, Commerce; Fish and Wildlife Service
(USFWS), Interior
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement.
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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act, NMFS and
USFWS (the Services) intend to prepare an Environmental Impact
Statement (EIS) related to the proposed issuance of an incidental take
permit (Permit) to Simpson Timber Company, Northwest Operations
(Simpson), for take of endangered and threatened species in accordance
with the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). As required
by the act, the applicant is preparing a Habitat Conservation Plan
(Plan). The Permit application is related to forest management and
timber harvest on a portion of Simpson's fee-owned timberlands in
Thurston, Mason, and Grays Harbor Counties, Washington. Simpson intends
to request an Permit for the marbled murrelet (Brachyramphus
marmoratus), and the bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus). Simpson may
also seek coverage for three fish species proposed for listing under
the Act and approximately 60 currently unlisted fish and wildlife
species under specific provisions of the Permit should these species be
listed in the future.
The Services are furnishing this notice in order to advise other
agencies and the public of our intentions and to announce the
initiation of a 30-day public scoping period during which other
agencies and the public are invited to provide written comments on the
scope of issues to be included in the EIS.
DATES: Written comments must be received on or before March 11, 1999.
ADDRESSES: Comments and requests for additional information should be
sent to Kathy Cushman, Fish and Wildlife Service, 510 Desmond Drive,
SE, Suite 102, Lacey, Washington 98503, telephone (360) 753-9000; or
Mike Parton, National Marine Fisheries Service, 510 Desmond Drive SE,
Suite 103, Lacey, Washington 98503, telephone (360) 753-4650.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Simpson owns and manages approximately
267,000 acres of commercial timberland in Thurston, Mason, and Grays
Harbor counties, Washington. Simpson proposes to manage, pursuant to
the Plan, approximately 214,000 acres of its Washington properties
located north of Highway 8 and west of Highway 101, and possible future
inclusions of additional lands within 10 miles. The Plan area extends
into the southern foothills of the Olympic Mountains and across the
Wynoochee River Valley to the City of Aberdeen's Wishkah Watershed.
Management activities include timber harvest and other forest
management activities.
Some of Simpson's management activities have the potential to
impact species subject to protection under the Act. Section 10(a)(2)(B)
of the Act contains provisions for the issuance of incidental take
permits to non-Federal land owners for the take of endangered and
threatened species, provided the take is incidental to otherwise lawful
activities and will not appreciably reduce the likelihood of the
survival and recovery of the species in the wild. An applicant for a
Permit under section 10 of the Act must prepare and submit to the
Services for approval a Plan containing a strategy for minimizing and
mitigating all take associated with the proposed activities to the
maximum extent practicable. The applicant must also ensure that
adequate funding for the Plan will be provided.
Simpson has initiated discussions with the Services regarding the
possibility of a Permit and associated Plan for their activities on
their land to be covered by a Permit. Activities proposed for Permit
coverage include mechanized timber harvest; log transportation; road
construction, maintenance, and abandonment; site preparation; tree
planting; fertilization; silvicultural thinning; experimental
silviculture; controlled burns; wildfire suppression; stream
restoration; and the harvest and sale of minor forest products. The
Plan and Permit would also cover certain monitoring activities and
related scientific experiments in the Plan area.
The Services will conduct an environmental review of the Plan and
prepare an EIS. The environmental
[[Page 6326]]
review will analyze the proposal as well as a full range of reasonable
alternatives and the associated impacts of each. The Services are
currently in the process of developing alternatives for analysis. Under
a No Action Alternative, incidental take permits would not be issued,
and Simpson would continue a forest management program, which avoids
take of federally listed species. The applicant's Plan alternative
proposes that the Services issue incidental take permits and that
Simpson would implement the Plan on 214,000 acres of Simpson's
Washington timberlands. Another alternative proposes blending the
standards and guidelines of the Northwest Forest Plan and the proposed
Plan. Under this alternative, the Services would issue incidental take
permits, and Simpson would manage their lands in accordance with
standards and guidelines less restrictive than the Northwest Forest
Plan but which exceed those of the proposed Plan. A fourth alternatives
proposes that Simpson manage their lands in accordance with the
standards and guidelines of the Northwest Forest Plan. Under this
alternative, the Services would issue incidental take permits, and
Simpson would manage their land accordingly.
Comments and suggestions are invited from all interested parties to
ensure that the full range of issues related to these proposed actions
are addressed and that all significant issues are identified. Comments
or questions concerning this proposed action and the environmental
review should be directed to the Fish and Wildlife Service or the
National Marine Fisheries Service (see ADDRESSES).
The environmental review of this project will be conducted in
accordance with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy
Act of 1969, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and implementing
regulations (40 CFR parts 1500 through 1508) and of other appropriate
Federal laws and regulations and policies and procedures of the
Services for compliance with those regulations. It is estimated that
the draft EIS will be available for public review during the second
quarter of 1999.
Dated: January 19, 1999.
Thomas J. Dwyer,
Acting Regional Director, Region 1, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
Portland, Oregon.
Dated: February 2, 1999.
Kevin Collins,
Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected Resources,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 99-3130 Filed 2-8-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F, 4310-55-F
