[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 54 (Wednesday, March 20, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17224-17226]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-06374]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-R1-ES-2013-N057; FXES11120100000-134-FF01E00000]
Environmental Impact Statement; Proposed South Puget Sound
Prairie Habitat Conservation Plan, Thurston County, WA
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), Interior.
ACTION: Notice of intent; announcement of meeting; request for
comments.
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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), advise
interested parties of our intent to conduct public scoping under the
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to gather information to
prepare a draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) related to a
permit application from Thurston County, Washington, for the incidental
take of listed species. The permit application would be associated the
South Puget Sound Prairie Habitat Conservation Plan (Prairie HCP),
Thurston County, WA.
DATES: A public meeting will be held on April 6, 2013, from 9:30 a.m.
to 3 p.m. at the Exposition Hall, Thurston County Fairgrounds, 3054
Carpenter Road, Lacey, WA 98503. To ensure consideration of written
comments, please send your written comments on or before May 20, 2013.
ADDRESSES: Comments concerning the development of Thurston County's
Prairie HCP and the preparation of the associated EIS should be
identified as such and may be submitted by one of the following
methods:
U.S. mail: Tim Romanski, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
Washington Fish and Wildlife Office, 510 Desmond Drive SE., Suite 102,
Lacey, WA 98503-1263.
Email: WFWOComments@fws.gov. Include ``Thurston County
Prairie HCP--EIS'' in the subject line of the message.
Facsimile: (360) 753-9518.
In-Person: Written comments will be accepted at the public
meeting on April 6, 2013, or can be dropped off during regular business
hours at the above address.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tim Romanski, U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service at address under ADDRESSES, above; by email at Tim_Romanski@fws.gov; or by telephone at (360) 753-5823.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Reasonable Accommodation
Persons needing reasonable accommodations to attend and participate
in the public meeting should contact Tim Romanski (see FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT). To allow sufficient time to process requests,
please call no later than March 31, 2013. Information regarding the
applicant's proposed action is available in alternative formats upon
request.
Background
Section 9 of the Endangered Species Act (Act) (16 U.S.C. 1531 et
seq.) and our implementing regulations in the Code of Federal
Regulations (CFR) at 50 CFR part 17 prohibit the ``take'' of fish or
wildlife species listed as endangered or threatened. Take of listed
fish or wildlife is defined under the Act as ``to
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harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, or
collect, or to attempt to engage in any such conduct'' (16 U.S.C.
1532). The term ``harass'' is defined in the regulations as ``an
intentional or negligent act or omission which creates the likelihood
of injury to wildlife by annoying it to such an extent as to
significantly disrupt normal behavioral patterns which include, but are
not limited to, breeding, feeding, or sheltering'' (50 CFR 17.3). The
term ``harm'' is defined in the regulations as ``an act which actually
kills or injures wildlife. Such act may include significant habitat
modification or degradation where it actually kills or injures wildlife
by significantly impairing essential behavioral patterns, including
breeding, feeding, and sheltering'' (50 CFR 17.3).
Under limited circumstances, we issue permits to authorize
incidental take--i.e., take that is incidental to, and not the purpose
of, the carrying out of an otherwise lawful activity. Regulations
governing incidental take permits for threatened and endangered species
are at 50 CFR 17.32 and 17.22, respectively. In addition to meeting
other criteria, an incidental take permit must not jeopardize the
continued existence of federally listed threatened or endangered
species.
NEPA (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) requires that Federal agencies
conduct an environmental analysis of their proposed actions to
determine if the actions may significantly affect the human
environment. Under NEPA, a reasonable range of alternatives to a
proposed project is developed and considered in the Service's
environmental review. Alternatives considered for analysis in an EIS
for an HCP may include: variations in the scope of covered activities;
variations in the location, amount, and type of conservation;
variations in permit duration; or a combination of these elements.
Introduction
South Puget Sound prairies and oak woodlands are among the rarest
habitats in Washington. Today, only about 10 percent of the spatial
extent of the original South Puget Sound Prairies remains. Less than 3
percent of that is considered high-quality prairie habitat. The decline
in the quantity and quality of prairie habitat in western Washington
has resulted in imperiled populations of many prairie-dependent
species. Land development and other incompatible uses are the primary
threats to prairies and their associated species.
Thurston County is located at the southern end of Puget Sound and
has a total population of approximately 257,000 people. As one of the
fastest growing regions in the State of Washington, Thurston County's
population grew by approximately 50,000 (24 percent) between the year
2000 and the year 2012, and is expected to grow by over 138,000 by the
year 2040. A sizable portion of South Puget Sound Prairie habitat is
located in the urban-rural interface and in the less densely populated
southern portion of the county. Based on current zoning and land use
regulations, future development in the county is likely to occur on
lands with prairie soils and habitat suitable for rare prairie species
protection or restoration.
Washington State's Growth Management Act requires counties to
protect several types of ``critical areas,'' including important fish
and wildlife habitats such as prairies and oak woodlands. Thurston
County recently updated and approved its Critical Areas Ordinance for
the protection of South Puget Sound prairies and oak woodlands. If the
South Puget Sound Prairie HCP is approved, this ordinance will be an
important basis for implementing the HCP.
The Prairie HCP goals are to avoid and minimize incidental take of
the covered species associated with Thurston County's activities in the
county and urban growth areas, and to mitigate the effects of
unavoidable take, primarily by creating conserved habitat areas in
Thurston County where intact prairie habitat exists. The Prairie HCP
would provide a county-wide permitting approach for Thurston County and
those who require permits from Thurston County to develop lands in the
county and urban growth areas. The proposed term for the Prairie HCP
and permit is from 30 to 50 years.
Covered Activities
Thurston County is seeking incidental take coverage for activities
that it conducts, permits, or otherwise authorizes. The proposed
covered activities may include, but are not limited to: planning and
permitting of residential and agricultural structures and facilities on
existing legal lots; permits for private and new subdivision road
construction and maintenance; permits for work in right-of-ways;
construction and maintenance of county roads, bridges, and right-of-
ways; construction and maintenance of county-owned buildings and other
administrative facilities; construction and maintenance of county parks
and historical cemeteries including roads, trails, vegetation
management, structures, recreational activities, scientific research;
construction and operation of solid waste facilities; permitting and
monitoring of wells, septic systems, and decommissioning of home oil
tanks; maintenance and monitoring of water resources and associated
facilities; construction, installation, extension, and maintenance of
surface-water intake facilities, pumping plants, well houses, water
treatment facilities, and water supply pipelines; emergency response,
cleanup, and restoration associated with natural disasters; habitat
restoration activities on county-owned or controlled land, the
Voluntary Stewardship Program for agricultural activities in habitat
areas, and all habitat enhancement activities associated with
implementation of the HCP.
Covered Species
Thurston County is proposing to seek incidental take coverage for
two federally listed species, three species proposed to be federally
listed, one candidate species, and 12 non-listed species. These species
are described in more detail in the following paragraphs.
Golden paintbrush (Castilleja levisecta) is a native forb that was
once found on northwest prairie grasslands from British Columbia to the
Willamette Valley of Oregon. Golden paintbrush was federally listed as
threatened under the Endangered Species Act on June 11, 1997 (62 FR
31740). This flowering plant is known to exist in only 11 locations,
including one population found on a South Puget Sound Prairie in
Thurston County.
Water howellia (Howellia aquatilis) is a winter annual aquatic
plant that grows in areas that were once associated with glacial
potholes and former river oxbows that flood in the spring. Water
howellia (Howellia aquatilis) was federally listed as threatened on
July 14, 1993 (59 FR 35860). This flowering plant is currently known
from California, Idaho, Montana, and Washington, and was historically
found in Oregon.
Taylor's checkerspot (Euphydryas editha taylori) is a native
butterfly that was once widespread throughout prairies in association
with golden paintbrush. Taylor's checkerspot was proposed to be
federally listed as an endangered species and designation of critical
habitat was proposed on October 11, 2012 (77 FR 61937). This species is
already classified as endangered by the State of Washington. In south
Puget Sound, this species is found at only two locations: one where the
butterfly naturally occurs, and the other where it has been
reintroduced. Both locations lie within the south Puget Sound prairie
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landscape. Reintroductions of this species are being undertaken on
lands already conserved.
Streaked horned lark (Eremophila alpestris strigata) is a native
bird found in prairies, grasslands, and other sparsely vegetated areas.
This species was proposed to be federally listed as a threatened
species and designation of critical habitat was proposed on October 11,
2012 (77 FR 61937). Once distributed from British Columbia to southern
Oregon, its range has retracted considerably. Within Thurston County
this species is found at only few locations. The northernmost known
population occurs on Joint Base Lewis-McChord.
The Mazama pocket gopher (Thomomys mazama), a native mammal of
Thurston County, occurs on prairie habitat and prairie soils. In the
south Puget Sound area, two of nine subpopulations of Mazama pocket
gopher have become extinct since the 1940s. Four subspecies of the
gopher were proposed to be federally listed as threatened and
designation of critical habitat was proposed on December 11, 2012 (77
FR 77370).
The county also proposes to cover the Oregon spotted frog (Rana
pretiosa), which was designated a candidate species on September 19,
1997 (62 FR 49402), and the following non-listed species: western gray
squirrel (Sciurus griseus), Oregon vesper sparrow (Pooecetes
graminesu), slender-billed white-breasted nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis
aculeate), western pond turtle (Clemmys marmorata affinus), western
toad (Bufo boreas), mardon skipper (Polites mardon), Puget blue
butterfly (Icaricia icarioides blackmorei), valley silverspot butterfly
(Speyeria zerene), white-top aster (Aster curtus), rose checker mallow
(Sidalcea malviflora virgata), small-flowered trillium (Trillium
parviflorum), and Puget balsamroot (Balsamorhiza deltoidea).
Public Scoping
The primary purpose of the scoping process is for the public to
assist the Service and Thurston County in developing a draft EIS by
identifying important issues and alternatives related to the
applicant's proposed action. The scoping meeting will include
presentations by the Service and Thurston County, followed by informal
questions and discussions. Written comments from all interested parties
are welcome to ensure that a full range of issues and alternatives
related to the proposed permit request is identified.
The Service requests that comments be specific. In particular, we
request information regarding management issues and goals to be
considered in the development of the HCP; existing environmental
conditions in Thurston County; other plans or projects that might be
relevant to this proposed project; permit duration; areas and specific
landforms that should or should not be covered; species that should or
should not be covered; covered activities, including potential
avoidance, minimization, and mitigation measures; monitoring and
adaptive management provisions; and funding suggestions.
We will accept written comments at the public meeting. You may also
submit written comments to the Service at our U.S. mail address, by
email, or by facsimile (see ADDRESSES section above). Once the draft
EIS and draft HCP are prepared, there will be further opportunity for
public comment on the content of these documents through an additional
90-day public comment period.
Public Availability of Comments
Comments and materials we receive, as well as supporting
documentation we use in preparing the EIS under NEPA, will become part
of the public record and will be available for public inspection by
appointment, during regular business hours, at the Service's Washington
Fish and Wildlife Office (see ADDRESSESS). Before including your
address, phone number, email address, or other personal identifying
information in your comment(s), you should be aware that your entire
comment(s)--including your personal identifying information--may be
made publicly available at any time. While you can ask us in your
comment(s) to withhold your personal identifying information from
public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.
Authority
The environmental review of this project will be conducted in
accordance with the requirements of the NEPA of 1969, as amended (42
U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), Council on Environmental Quality Regulations (40
CFR parts 1500-1508), other applicable Federal laws and regulations,
and applicable policies and procedures of the Service. This notice is
being furnished in accordance with 40 CFR 1501.7 of the NEPA
regulations to obtain suggestions and information from other agencies
and the public on the scope of issues and alternatives to be addressed
in the EIS.
Dated: March 5, 2013.
Richard R. Hannan,
Deputy Regional Director, Pacific Region, U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, Portland, Oregon.
[FR Doc. 2013-06374 Filed 3-19-13; 8:45 am]
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