[Federal Register: February 5, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 24)] [Notices] [Page 5775-5776] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr05fe99-46] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service [I.D. 012299C] Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement Regarding Proposed Issuance of an Incidental Take Permit to Crown Pacific for Forest Management and Timber Harvest in Whatcom and Skagit Counties, Washington AGENCIES: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Commerce; Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), Interior. ACTION: Notice of intent. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act, this notice advises the public that NMFS and FWS (the Services) intend to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) related to the proposed approval of a Habitat Conservation Plan (Plan) and an issuance of an incidental take permit (Permit) to take endangered and threatened species in accordance with 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 the northern spotted owl (Strix occidentalis), marbled murrelet (Brachyramphus marmoratus), gray wolf (Canis lupus), peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus), bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), and the grizzly bear (Ursus arctos). It may also request a permit for 22 currently unlisted species of concern (including anadromous and resident fish), should these species be listed under the Act in the future. The Services are furnishing this notice in order to advise other agencies and the public of our intentions and to announce that a draft EIS is expected to be available for public review and comment during the first quarter of 1999. ADDRESSES: Address comments and requests for information to: Brian Bogaczyk, Fish and Wildlife Service, 510 Desmond Drive, SE, Suite 102, Lacey, Washington 98503, telephone (360) 753-5824; or Matt Longenbaugh, National Marine Fisheries Service, 510 Desmond Drive, SE, Suite 103, Lacey, Washington 98503, telephone (360) 753-7761. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Crown Pacific, Ltd., owns and manages the 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 84,664 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 indefinitely as a natural and 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 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 order to receive a Permit, the applicant must prepare and submit to the Services for approval a Plan containing a strategy for minimizing, monitoring, 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. If approved, the Permit and Plan would be in effect for 100 years. Activities proposed for Permit coverage include the following: Tree site preparation; tree planting; harvesting and yarding of timber; construction, maintenance and use of logging roads and landings; quarrying of stone and [[Page 5776]] gravel for use in those roads and landings; and cellular phone and radio repeater tower sites. Previous announcements relating to this project indicated that an environmental review (EIS or Environmental Assessment) would be conducted. The Services have now concluded that an EIS should be prepared. The EIS will analyze the proposal and the reasonable alternatives, as well as the associated impacts of each. Development of initial alternatives involved internal and public scoping. Public input into the environmental review of this proposal was obtained during a public scoping period conducted from August 20 to September 21, 1998, and was announced in a previous Federal Register notice (63 FR 44634, August 20, 1998). That public scoping period will be used to fulfill scoping requirements under 40 CFR 1501.7, consistent with 46 FR 18026 (March 23, 1981), as amended by 51 FR 15618 (April 25, 1985). Four alternatives have been proposed thus far and will be considered for detailed analysis in the EIS. Under Alternative A (no- action alternative) no Permit would be issued and take would 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 with provisions for approximately 22 unlisted species (covered species). The Plan would have minimization and mitigation measures for each of the covered species on the property. Alternative C involves issuing a Permit for northern spotted owl and marbled murrelet only, with provisions for approximately 9 unlisted species (covered species). The Plan would have minimization and mitigation measures for each covered species. Alternative D involves a Candidate Conservation Agreement with minimization and mitigation measures for anadromous salmonids and bull trout and take avoidance for all threatened and endangered species. 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 parts 1500 through 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 EIS will be available for public review and comment during the first quarter of 1999. Date: January 19, 1999. Thomas J. Dwyer, Acting Regional Director, Region 1, Fish and Wildlife Service, Portland, Oregon. Date: February 1, 1999. Kevin Collins, Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 99-2795 Filed 2-4-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-22-F, 4310-55-F