[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 83 (Monday, May 2, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-10360]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: May 2, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
 

Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement To 
Allow Incidental Take of the Threatened Northern Spotted Owl (Strix 
occidentalis caurina) and the Threatened Marbled Murrelet 
(Brachyramphus marmoratus marmoratus) on Lands Administered by the 
Washington State Department of Natural Resources

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice advises the public that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service (Service) and Washington State Department of Natural Resources 
(WDNR) intend to gather information necessary for the preparation of an 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). The EIS will consider a permit 
application by the WDNR to take federally listed species, under the 
provisions of section 10(a)(1)(B) of the Endangered Species Act (16 
U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) (Act). This notice is being furnished pursuant to 
the Council on Environmental Quality Regulations for Implementing The 
Procedural Provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) 
Regulations (40 CFR 1508.22).
    To satisfy both Federal and State Environmental Policy Act 
requirements, the Service and WDNR are conducting a joint scoping 
process for the preparation of an EIS. Interested agencies, 
organizations, and individuals are encouraged to provide written 
comments on the issues which should be addressed in the EIS to the 
Service or WDNR.

DATES: Written comments regarding the scope of the EIS should be 
received on or before May 31, 1994.

ADDRESSES: Comments regarding the scope of the EIS should be addressed 
to Mr. Curt Smitch, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 3773 Martin Way 
East, Building C, suite 101, Olympia, WA 98501.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Comments received will be available 
for public inspection by appointment during normal business hours (8 
a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday) at the Washington Department of 
Natural Resources, 1111 Washington St. SE., Olympia, WA; for 
appointment call Nonie Hall at (206) 902-1405.
    As a further opportunity for interested persons to comment on this 
scope of the EIS, scoping workshops are scheduled as follows:
     May 5, 1994. Thurston County Courthouse, Bldg. 1, Room 
152, Olympia, WA.
     May 10, 1994. Skagit Valley College, Ford Hall, Room F-
101, Mt. Vernon, WA.
     May 11, 1994. Port Townsend High School, 1500 Van Ness 
Street, Port Townsend, WA.
     May 17, 1994. Ellensberg High School, Ellensberg, VA.
     May 18, 1994. City Library, 621 K Street, Hoquiam, WA.
     May 19, 1994. Sunrise Elementary School, Enumclaw, WA.
    May 24, 1994. Vancouver Public Utility District, Meeting Room, 8600 
NE 117th Ave., Vancouver, WA.
    All scoping workshops will be held from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. 
Interested persons may contact John Engbring at (206) 53-9330 or Nonie 
Hall at (206) 902-1405 to receive additional information, including 
maps for the workshop locations.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: WDNR manages approximately 2.1 million acres 
of state forest land, 2 million acres of aquatic land (primarily 
tidelands and bedlands), and 1 million acres of range, agricultural and 
urban land.
    WDNR has launched an effort to address species conservation and 
ecosystem health issues on the lands it manages statewide. The effort 
will include the development of a habitat conservation plan, as allowed 
under section 10 of the Act, for forested lands to preserve and protect 
wildlife and fish while continuing commodity production.
    WDNR's goal is to develop a comprehensive species conservation and 
habitat management plan for forested state trust lands. It is WDNR's 
intent for the plan to achieve the following objectives.
    1. Meet the legal requirements for section 10 incidental take 
permits for selected threatened or endangered species;
    2. Obtain agreements for selected species that are candidates for 
listing;
    3. Make an appropriate contribution to the conservation of other 
forest associated species (with the intent of reducing the likelihood 
of future listings);
    4. Develop conservation strategies for salmon habitat;
    5. Integrate long-term forest health strategies with conservation 
strategies for northern spotted owl on WDNR managed forests in Eastern 
Washington; and
    6. Meet all the common law duties of a trustee.
    The proposed plan will consider the specific needs of those species 
for which an incidental take permit will be requested (the northern 
spotted owl and the marbled murrelet). In addition, the needs of native 
salmon and other forest associated species that may be listed within 
ten years will be addressed. Once completed, WDNR will submit the plan 
as part of the permit application process required under the provisions 
of section 10(a)(2)(A) of the Act. The Service will evaluate the 
incidental take permit application and plan in accordance with section 
10(a)(2)(B) of the Act, and its implementing regulations.
    The environmental review of this project will be conducted in 
accordance with the requirements of NEPA and its implementing 
regulations.

    Dated: April 25, 1994.
Don Weathers,
Regional Director, Region 1, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 94-10360 Filed 4-29-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-M