[Federal Register: August 20, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 161)] [Notices] [Page 44634-44635] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr20au98-77] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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