[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 161 (Thursday, August 20, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44634-44635]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-22267]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
Notice of Intent To Conduct Public Scoping and Prepare an
Environmental Document
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior; National Marine Fisheries
Service, NOAA, Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of intent to conduct public scoping and prepare an
environmental document.
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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act this notice
advises the public that the Fish and Wildlife Service and National
Marine Fisheries Service (Services) intend to gather information
necessary to prepare an environmental document (environmental
assessment or environmental impact statement) related to the proposed
approval of a Habitat Conservation Plan (Plan) and issuance of an
incidental take permit (Permit) to take endangered and threatened
species in accordance with section 10(a) of the Endangered Species Act
of 1973, as amended (Act). The Permit applicant is Crown Pacific, Ltd.,
and the application is related to forest management and timber harvest
on a portion of the Hamilton Tree Farm located in Whatcom and Skagit
Counties, Washington. Crown Pacific intends to request a Permit for
northern spotted owl, marbled murrelet, and possibly bald eagle,
peregrine falcon, grizzly bear, and gray wolf. Crown Pacific may also
seek coverage for approximately 20 currently unlisted species of
concern (including anadromous and resident fish) under specific
provisions of the Permit, should these species be listed in the future.
In accordance with the Act, Crown Pacific is preparing a Plan for,
among other things, minimizing and mitigating any such take which could
occur incidental to the proposed Permit activities (forest management
and timber harvest).
The Services are furnishing this notice in order to: (1) Advise
other agencies and the public of our intentions; and (2) to obtain
suggestions and information on the scope of issues to include in the
environmental document.
DATES: Written comments should be received on or before September 21,
1998.
ADDRESSES: Address comments and requests for more information to: Brian
Bogaczyk, Fish and Wildlife Service, 510 Desmond Drive, S.E., Suite
102, Lacey, Washington 98503, (360) 753-5824; or Matt Longenbaugh,
National Marine Fisheries Service, 510 Desmond Drive, S.E., Suite 103,
Lacey, Washington 98503, (360) 753-7761.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Crown Pacific, Ltd., owns and manages
Hamilton Tree Farm, located in Whatcom and Skagit Counties, Washington.
The proposed Plan area is composed of several parcels of the Hamilton
Tree Farm, totaling 84,430 acres, and is located north and south of
State Highway 20, roughly between Sedro-Woolley and Marblemount,
Washington. Management activities on the tree farm include forest
management and timber harvest. A portion of the proposed Plan area,
Arlecho Creek, is in the process of being transferred to the Nature
Conservancy and the Lummi Indian Nation, with the understanding that
the property will be managed as a natural/cultural area. The transfer
is expected to be completed in late 1999.
Some timber management activities have the potential to impact
species subject to protection under the Act. Section 10 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. In addition, the applicant 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.
Crown Pacific has initiated discussions with the Services regarding
the possibility of a Permit and associated Plan for their activities on
the Hamilton Tree Farm. Activities proposed thus far for Permit
coverage include the following: site preparation;
[[Page 44635]]
tree planting; harvesting and yarding of timber; construction,
maintenance and use of logging roads and landings; quarrying of stone
and gravel for use in those roads and landings; and cellular phone and
radio repeater tower sites.
The Services will conduct an environmental review of the Plan and
prepare an environmental document (environmental assessment or
environmental impact statement). The environmental 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. There are four
alternatives proposed thus far. Under Alternative A (no action
alternative) no Permit is issued and take will be avoided for any and
all threatened and endangered species on the property. Alternative B
(preferred alternative) involves issuing a Permit for six threatened
and endangered species on the property (bald eagle, peregrine falcon,
marbled murrelet, northern spotted owl, grizzly bear, gray wolf) with
provisions for approximately 20 unlisted species. The Plan would have
minimization and mitigation measures for six threatened and endangered
species and approximately 20 unlisted species on the property.
Alternative C involves issuing a Permit for northern spotted owl and
marbled murrelet only, with provisions for approximately 20 unlisted
species. The Plan would have minimization and mitigation measures for
northern spotted owl and marbled murrelet and approximately 20 unlisted
species. Alternative D involves a Candidate Conservation Agreement with
minimization and mitigation measures for anadromous salmonids and bull
trout and take avoidance for any and all threatened and endangered
species on the property.
Comments and suggestions are invited from all interested parties to
ensure that the full range of issues related to this proposed action
are addressed and all significant issues 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 at the addresses provided above.
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 1500-1508), other appropriate Federal laws and
regulations, and policies and procedures of the Services for compliance
with those regulations. It is estimated that the draft environmental
document will be available by January 1998.
Dated: August 12, 1998.
Thomas Dwyer,
Acting Regional Director, Region 1, Portland, Oregon, Fish and Wildlife
Service.
[FR Doc. 98-22267 Filed 8-19-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P
