[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 184 (Thursday, September 23, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51516-51517]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-24737]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[I.D. 091799D]
Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement To
Allow Incidental Take of Multiple Species by Non-industrial Private
Forest Landowners in Lewis County, Washington
AGENCIES: National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA, Commerce; U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service, Interior.
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 (NEPA), the
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and the National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS) (collectively, the Services) are providing notice that
they intend to gather information necessary
[[Page 51517]]
for the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). The EIS
will analyze options for issuing permits to numerous landowners to
potentially take federally listed species, under the provisions of
section 10(a)(1)(B) and/or 10(a)(1)(A) of the Endangered Species Act
(ESA). The EIS will address the impacts associated with the proposed
action, and other alternatives for forest management by nonindustrial
private landowners.
The Services are furnishing this notice to advise other agencies
and the public of our intentions and to announce the scheduling of
public meetings for scoping. The public is encouraged to attend a
public meeting or provide written comments on the scope of the issues
and potential alternatives to be included in the EIS.
DATES: Written comments regarding the scope of the EIS should be
received on or before October 25, 1999. Public meetings will be held on
September 22, and 23, 1999.
ADDRESSES: Written comments should be addressed to Mark Ostwald, FWS
Habitat Conservation Planning Program, 510 Desmond Drive SE, Suite 101,
Lacey, Washington 98503. Comments received will be available for public
inspection by appointment during normal business hours (8 a.m. to 5
p.m., Monday through Friday) at the address above. Public meetings are
scheduled to be held at the following locations and times: Lacey,
Washington, on September 22, 1999, at the FWS/NMFS office on the St.
Martins Campus at 510 Desmond Dr. SE (Sawyer Hall) from 3:00-5:00 pm
and 6:30-8:30 pm; and in Chehalis, Washington on September 23, 1999, at
Meeting Room #2, Lewis County Courthouse Annex, 345 West Main Street
from 3:00-5:00 pm and 6:30-8:30 pm.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mark Ostwald, FWS Habitat Conservation
Planning Program, (360) 534-9330.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This multi-party planning effort would
result in one Habitat Conservation Plan (Plan) and an EIS that
addresses effects of issuing numerous permits to landowners engaged in
forest management activities. The Plan is expected to include several
options available for landowners toward achieving a specified desired
future condition in Lewis County. It is expected that the Plan and the
EIS would address these actions within the constraints of: (1) A
specified portion of Lewis County; (2) a restricted number of
individual permits; (3) a limited amount of total acreage included
under each permit; (4) a limited time frame; and (5) addressing a
biologically based number of listed and unlisted species.
The Plan will evaluate the potential incidental take of several
listed species, such as the northern spotted owl (occidentalis caurina)
and bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), which could occur as a
result of timber harvest and related activities. The Plan will also
likely address other unlisted fish and wildlife species. This effort is
considered to be a pilot project to test the feasibility of addressing
long term forest management practices and alternatives for many small
landowners in Lewis County, relative to ESA regulations.
The Services are considering the use of incidental take permits
under section 10(a)(1)(B) of the ESA, as well as potential use of Safe
Harbor and/or Candidate Conservation Agreements under section
10(a)(1)(A). Options to link the Federal permit to State forest
practices permitting processes will be explored. It is also intended
that this Plan could be used in association with other incentives to
encourage and retain sound stewardship of forest land for the long
term.
This notice is provided pursuant to ESA and NEPA regulations.
Through development of a joint EIS, this process would comply with the
requirements of the Washington State Environmental Policy Act. The
Services are soliciting public comments on this proposal and a full
range of alternatives. As a further opportunity for interested persons
to comment on these and other issues associated with this planning
effort, scoping workshops have been scheduled (see DATES and
ADDRESSES). Interested parties may contact FWS at the address listed to
receive additional information, including maps for the workshop
locations.
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.), National
Environmental Policy Act Regulations (40 CFR 1500-1508), other
appropriate Federal laws and regulations, and policies and procedures
of the Services for compliance with those regulations.
Dated: August 27, 1999.
Thomas Dwyer,
Acting Regional Director, Fish and Wildlife Service.
Dated: September 17, 1999.
Wanda L. Cain,
Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected Resources,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 99-24737 Filed 9-17-99; 5:07 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P, 4310-55-P
