Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement Regarding Proposed Issuance of an Incidental Take Permit to the Montana Department of Natural Resrouces and Conservation on Foreted State Trust Lands in the State of Montana

Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA), the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) intends to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). The EIS will address the proposed issuance of an incidental take permit (Permit) to allow take of species on State Trust lands administered by the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) for activities primarily related to forest management. The proposed Permit would authorize take of federally listed threatened and endangered species in accordance with the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA), and other species of concern should they become listed in the future. The DNRC intends to request a Permit that includes the following species: Listed as threatened--gray wolf (Canis lupus), grizzly bear (Ursus arctos horribilis), bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis), bull trout (Salvelinus confluentus). Species of concern--wolverine (Gulo gulo), fisher (Martes pennanti), northern goshawk (Accipiter gentilis), black-backed woodpecker (Picoides arcticus), pileated woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus), flammulated owl (Otus flammeolus), westslope cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarki lewisi). As required by the ESA, the DNRC is preparing a Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) as part of an application for the Permit. The HCP would address the effects to species of DNRC's forest management activities on approximately 283,280 hectares (700,000 acres) of forested state school trust lands. The Service is furnishing this notice to advise other agencies and the public of our intentions and to announce the initiation of a 60-day scoping period during which other agencies and the public are invited to provide written comments on the scope of the issues and potential alternatives to be included in the EIS. In compliance with their responsibilities pursuant to the NEPA and its implementing regulations, 40 CFR 1500.0 et seq., and the Montana Environmental Policy Act (MEPA), Mont. Code Ann. 75-1-101 through 75-1- 324, and its DNRC implementing regulations, ARM 36.2.501 through 36.2.611, the DNRC and the Service jointly announce their intent to prepare an EIS for the proposed action of reviewing and approving the proposed HCP and issuing an incidental take permit. The DNRC and the Service also jointly announce their intent to hold scoping meetings, the date, time, and place of which are provided in this notice below. This notice is provided pursuant to section10(c) of the ESA and NEPA implementing regulations, 40 CFR 1506.6.