Comment Period, Public Meetings Set on Proposed Federal Plan for State Wildlife Areas
Comments will be taken through Nov. 1 and public meetings are scheduled Oct. 19-27 on a proposed Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) that would provide Endangered Species Act (ESA) compliance coverage for Washington state wildlife areas. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) set a 30-day public scoping period for the proposed HCP covering the 32 wildlife areas managed by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW). The public scoping meetings are intended to inform interested parties of the proposed WDFW HCP and gather public input that will facilitate the development of the EIS.
WDFWs proposed HCP includes a federal incidental take permit to allow standard land management and operations activities, agriculture, and recreation on its wildlife areas. Those approximately 900,000 acres of WDFW-owned or managed lands host fish, wildlife, invertebrate and plant species that are ESA-protected. If granted, the permit would authorize the incidental take of 32 listed species, plus 20 unlisted species should they become listed under the ESA during the term of the HCP.
Detailed information on the project is available at http://www.fws.gov/pacific/.
Four public scoping meetings, all 6:30 8:30 p.m., have been scheduled as follows:
Tues., Oct. 19, at Everett Community College, 2000 Tower Street, Whitehorse Hall, Room 105, Everett Wed., Oct. 20, at FWS and NMFS Office, 510 Desmond Drive, Sawyer Hall, Lacey Tues., Oct. 26, at Hal Homes Center, 209 N. Ruby Street, Teanaway Room, Ellensburg Wed., Oct. 27, at Spokane Valley Center Place, 2426 N. Discovery Place, Room 109, Spokane Valley.
USFWS is accepting all comments through November 1, 2010 at: wdfwwlareahcp@fws.gov. on the scope of the EIS, the range of alternatives, and the impacts that should be analyzed.
The Washington Fish and Wildlife Office of the USFWS is based in Lacey, Washington. We address Federal fish and wildlife issues from the crest of the Cascade Mountains to the Pacific Ocean, and from the Canadian border to the Columbia River. The office is responsible for listing, recovery and consultation on species protected under the Endangered Species Act; the development of Conservation Plans; collaborative implementation of the Northwest Forest Plan in Western Washington; issues involving migratory birds and other species protected by Federal laws; environmental contaminants assessments and spill response; fish and wildlife habitat restoration; review of proposed Federal projects, including Clean Water Act activities, and technical assistance on fishery resource issues. The Western Washington Fish and Wildlife Office is the lead USFWS pointy of contact for issues with Statewide implications.
WDFWs proposed HCP includes a federal incidental take permit to allow standard land management and operations activities, agriculture, and recreation on its wildlife areas. Those approximately 900,000 acres of WDFW-owned or managed lands host fish, wildlife, invertebrate and plant species that are ESA-protected. If granted, the permit would authorize the incidental take of 32 listed species, plus 20 unlisted species should they become listed under the ESA during the term of the HCP.
Detailed information on the project is available at http://www.fws.gov/pacific/.
Four public scoping meetings, all 6:30 8:30 p.m., have been scheduled as follows:
USFWS is accepting all comments through November 1, 2010 at: wdfwwlareahcp@fws.gov. on the scope of the EIS, the range of alternatives, and the impacts that should be analyzed.
The Washington Fish and Wildlife Office of the USFWS is based in Lacey, Washington. We address Federal fish and wildlife issues from the crest of the Cascade Mountains to the Pacific Ocean, and from the Canadian border to the Columbia River. The office is responsible for listing, recovery and consultation on species protected under the Endangered Species Act; the development of Conservation Plans; collaborative implementation of the Northwest Forest Plan in Western Washington; issues involving migratory birds and other species protected by Federal laws; environmental contaminants assessments and spill response; fish and wildlife habitat restoration; review of proposed Federal projects, including Clean Water Act activities, and technical assistance on fishery resource issues. The Western Washington Fish and Wildlife Office is the lead USFWS pointy of contact for issues with Statewide implications.
