[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 43 (Monday, March 4, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8301-8302]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-4934]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Availability of an Environmental Assessment and Receipt of an
Application for an Incidental Take Permit for Timber Management
Practices in Conecuh and Monroe Counties, Alabama by MacMillan Bloedel
Timberlands, Incorporated
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: MacMillan Bloedel Timberlands, Incorporated, (Applicant) has
applied to the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) for an incidental
take permit pursuant to Section 10(a)(1)(B) of the Endangered Species
Act (Act). The proposed permit would authorize for a period of 30 years
the incidental take of a threatened species, the Red Hills salamander,
Phaeognathus hubrichti, known to occupy lands owned by the Applicant in
Conecuh and Monroe Counties, south-central Alabama.
The Service also announces the availability of an Environmental
Assessment (EA) and Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) for the incidental
take application. The Applicant's HCP describes Phaeognathus hubrichti
conservation measures to be employed to address the anticipated level
of incidental take. The EA prepared by the Service describes the
environmental consequences of issuing or denying the Applicant's
request for an incidental take permit. As stated in the EA, the Service
proposes to issue the requested permit. This proposal is based on a
preliminary determination that the Applicant has satisfied the
requirements for permit issuance and that the HCP provides conservation
benefits to Phaeognathus hubrichti. This notice also advises the public
that the Service has made a preliminary determination that issuing the
incidental take permit is not a major Federal action significantly
affecting the quality of the human environment within the meaning of
Section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as
amended. The Finding of No Significant Impact is based on information
contained in the EA and HCP. The final determination will be made no
sooner than 30 days from the date of this notice. This notice is
provided pursuant to Section 10 of the Act and National
Environmental Policy Act Regulations (40 CFR 1506.6). Copies of the EA
and HCP may be obtained by making a written request to the Regional
Office [See ADDRESSES below]. Note that requests must be in writing to
be properly processed.
DATES: Written comments should be received on or before April 3, 1996.
ADDRESSES: Persons wishing to review the application may obtain a copy
by writing the Service's Southeast Regional Office, Atlanta, Georgia.
Persons wishing to review the EA or HCP may obtain a copy by writing
the Regional Office or the Jackson, Mississippi, Field Office.
Documents will also be available for public inspection, by appointment,
during normal business hours at the Regional Office, or the Field
Office. Written data or comments concerning the application, EA, or HCP
should be submitted to the Regional Office. Please reference permit
number PRT-811415 in such comments:
Regional Permit Coordinator, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1875
Century Boulevard, Suite 200, Atlanta, Georgia (404-679-7110, fax 404-
679-7081)
Field Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 6578 Dogwood View
Parkway, Suite A, Jackson, Mississippi 39213 (601-965-4900, fax 601-
965-4340)
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Will McDearman, Jackson, Mississippi
Field Office or Rick Gooch at the Atlanta, Georgia Regional Office.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 9 of the Act, and implementing
regulations, prohibits the take of threatened and endangered species.
Take, in part, is defined as an activity that kills, injures, harms, or
harasses a listed endangered or threatened species.
Section 10(a)(1)(B) of the Act provides an exemption, under certain
circumstances, to the Section 9 prohibition if the taking is incidental
to, and not the purpose of an otherwise lawful activities.
Phaeognathus hubrichti is a plethodontid salamander and the sole
member of its genus. Its range is confined to a small area of southern
Alabama. Portions of the Applicant's lands in the Red Hills
physiographic province of south-central Alabama are occupied by this
species. According to the surveys identified in the HCP, the Applicant
owns approximately 3,800 acres within the species' historic range in
Conecuh and Monroe Counties. The Applicant's HCP attempts to define
certain management prescriptions according to known occurrences of
Phaeognathus hubrichti as well as the species' habitat selection
preferences. The HCP identifies three habitat classifications: Optimal;
Moderately Suitable; and Marginal. The Applicant owns approximately
1,200 acres; 1,300 acres; and 1,300 acres, respectively of each habitat
type.
Within the Optimal habitats of the Applicant's properties
encompassed by the HCP, either no timber harvests will occur or very
limited single tree selections with at least 90 percent hardwood canopy
maintained. To minimize impacts to the soil, any trees removed from
optimal habitat will be felled by chain saw and pulled from the area by
cable, or other applicable method with no heavy machinery permitted in
the area.
Within the Moderately Suitable habitats of the Applicant's
properties encompassed by the HCP, an increased level of selective
cutting (followed by natural regeneration of tree species
characteristic of Phaeognathus hubrichti habitat), provided hardwood
canopy cover is not reduced by more than 35 percent.
Within the Marginal to Unsuitable habitats, options on these areas
will include normal silvicultural practices, such as clearcutting,
select tree harvest, chemical and mechanical site preparation,
replanting, and prescribed burning. Clear-cut areas will be planted
with pine or hardwood seedlings. Site preparation methods vary
depending on the site but usually will include a combination of
herbicides and fire. Although rotation lengths may change in the future
due to economic and/or biological considerations, plantations are
currently managed on a pulpwood/sawtimber rotation averaging 20-35
years. Prescribed burning rotations range from 3 to 7 years.
Pest or disease infested trees are removed from all habitat
classification, if necessary, to prevent further infection of healthy
trees. Forested buffers of approximately 50 feet width will be
maintained above and below areas classified as Phaeognathus hubrichti
Optimal habitat. Timber harvesting will be conducted within these
buffers with at least 50 percent of the canopy cover maintained.
The HCP also contained funding for the development of an integrated
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management plan incorporating the above prescriptions, as well as
employee/contractor training, and maintenance of the permit's terms and
conditions.
The EA considers the environmental consequences of two
alternatives. The no action alternative would probably result in
continued insidious and direct habitat loss for Phaeognathus hubrichti
resulting in further jeopardy to the species and continued exposure of
the Applicant under Section 9 of the Act. This action is inconsistent
with the purposes and intent of Section 10 of the Act. The proposed
action alternative is issuance of the incidental take permit. The
issuance of the permit will be predicated on implementation of the
Applicant's HCP, and the measures contained in the authorizing permit.
Dated: February 26, 1996.
Noreen K. Clough,
Regional Director.
[FR Doc. 96-4934 Filed 3-1-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P
