Elliott State Research Forest Habitat Conservation Plan

The Oregon Department of State Lands is developing a Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) for the Elliott State Forest in Oregon’s Coos and Douglas Counties. The plan will balance forest research and management activities with the conservation of rare species and their habitat on the Elliott State Forest. The Service prepared a draft Environmental Impact Statement to analyze the potential effects of issuing an incidental take permit and approving the plan. Species that will likely be covered under the plan include the northern spotted owl, marbled murrelet, and Oregon Coast coho.

Draft Environmental Impact Statement --- Public Comment Period OPEN

The public comment period is open and has been extended until January 10, 2023. 

Public comment period extension (published Dec. 20)
Recording of the DEIS public meeting
Draft Habitat Conservation Plan
Draft EIS
Federal Register notice for the draft EIS (published Nov. 18)
News release for the draft EIS

The public can provide comments online at www.regulations.gov by following instructions for submitting comments on Docket No. FWS–R1–ES–2022–0029. Alternatively, hard copies can be mailed to Public Comments Processing; Attn: Docket No. FWS–R1–ES–2022–0029; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Headquarters, MS: PRB/3W; 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041–3803. 

Public Meeting for the draft EIS

The Service held a virtual public meeting on December 13, 2022, from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Pacific time. The meeting included presentation on the proposed HCP and draft EIS, followed by an opportunity for questions and discussion. Public comments were not taken at this meeting. We encourage you to submit your written comments using one of the methods described above. 

Additional Information

The Service also held a public comment period during scoping that closed June 6, 2022. We encouraged the public and stakeholders to help identify issues and alternatives for the plan. The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Office and NOAA Fisheries West Coast, a cooperating agency, held a virtual public meeting on May 16, 2022 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. PT. A closed captioned recording of the meeting is available.

Federal Register notice for the public scoping period
News release for the public scoping period
Habitat Conservation Plan factsheet
Frequently asked questions about the National Environmental Policy Act

More information on the Elliott State Research Forest Habitat Conservation Plan is available the Oregon Department of State Lands website.