[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 222 (Friday, November 17, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57722-57724]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-27962]



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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service


Availability of a Draft Environmental Impact Statement and 
Receipt of an Application for the Proposed Issuance of a Permit To 
Allow Incidental Take of Threatened and Endangered Species on Plum 
Creek Timber Company, L.P., Lands in the I-90 Corridor, King and 
Kittitas Counties, WA

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of document availability; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: This notice advises the public that Plum Creek Timber Company, 
L.P. (Applicant) has applied to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and 
the National Marine Fisheries Service (together Services) for an 
incidental take permit pursuant to section 10(a)(1)(B) of the 
Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). The Applicant has 
also requested unlisted-species and safe-harbor provisions in an 
Implementation Agreement (Agreement) to cover vertebrate species which 
may be found in the planning area. The application has been assigned 
permit number PRT-808398. The requested permit would 

[[Page 57723]]
authorize incidental take of currently listed threatened or endangered 
species that may occur within the planning area in King and Kittitas 
Counties, Washington, as a result of the Applicant's timber management 
activities. The unlisted-species provision provides for the issuance of 
further permits for the incidental take of species not presently listed 
under the Act, but which might become listed during the term of the 
proposed permit, and which might occur within the planning area.
    The Services also announce the availability of a Draft 
Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the proposed issuance of the 
incidental take permit and approval of the Agreement. All comments 
received will become part of the public record and may be released. 
This notice is provided pursuant to section 10(c) of the Act and 
National Environmental Policy Act regulations (40 CFR 1506.6).

DATES: Written comments on the permit application and DEIS should be 
received on or before January 7, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Comments regarding the application or DEIS, or requests for 
those documents, should be addressed to William Vogel, U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service, Pacific Northwest Habitat Conservation Plan Program, 
3773 Martin Way East, Building C--Suite 101, Olympia, Washington 98501; 
(360) 534-9330. Please refer to permit No. PRT-808398 when submitting 
comments. Individuals wishing copies of the documents for review should 
immediately contact the office listed above. Copies of the documents 
are also available at the following libraries:

Wenatchee Public Library, Attention: Joy, 310 Douglas Street, 
Wenatchee, Washington 98801
University of Washington Library, Attention: Carolyn Aamot, Government 
Publications Department, 170 Suzzallo Library, Seattle, Washington 
98195-2900
Seattle Public Library, Attention: Jeanette Voiland, Government 
Publications Department, 1000 Fourth Avenue, Seattle, Washington 98104
Evergreen State College, Attention: Lee Lyttle, Library Campus 
Parkway--L23100H, Olympia, Washington 98505
Central Washington University, Attention: Dr. Patrick McLaughlin, 
Library Collection Development, Ellensburg, Washington 98926
King County Library System, Attention: Cheryl Standley, Documents 
Department, 1111 110th Avenue Northeast, Bellevue, Washington 98004

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: William Vogel, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service, or Steve Landino, National Marine Fisheries Service, at the 
office listed above.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Under section 9 of the Act and its implementing regulations, 
``taking'' of threatened and endangered species is prohibited. However, 
the Service, under limited circumstances, may issue permits to take 
threatened or endangered wildlife species if such taking is incidental 
to, and not the purpose of, otherwise lawful activities. Regulations 
governing permits for threatened and endangered species are in 50 CFR 
17.32 and 17.22.
    The permit application includes a Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) 
and the Agreement. In the HCP, the Applicant has addressed species 
conservation and ecosystem management on approximately 170,000 acres of 
its private land in the Cascade Mountains of Washington. The 
Applicant's ownership occurs in a ``checkerboard'' pattern in an area 
commonly referred to as the I-90 Corridor. The term ``checkerboard'' 
refers to alternate sections of public and private land. The 
``checkerboard'' HCP planning area is approximately 419,000 acres in 
size. The term of the proposed permit is 50 years from the date of 
issuance, with a possible extension of an additional 50 years for safe-
harbor provision purposes.
    The Applicant is requesting a permit for the incidental take of 
northern spotted owls (Strix occidentalis caurina) (owls) which may 
occur as a result of timber harvest and related activities within a 
portion of the owl sites present on the Applicant's property. There are 
currently more than 100 owl sites that impact operations within the 
planning area. The Applicant plans to avoid the take of marbled 
murrelets (Brachyramphus marmoratus marmoratus), but has included 
murrelets in the incidental take permit application in case some 
incidental take occurs. The Applicant has also included grizzly bears 
(Ursus arctos = U.a. horribilis) and gray wolves (Canis lupus) in the 
permit application to cover the circumstance where these species may 
occur on the subject property in the future and may at some point be 
subject to take. The Applicant has addressed numerous other species in 
their HCP and is requesting the unlisted-species and safe-harbor 
provisions in the Agreement for vertebrate species which may be found 
in habitats within the planning area. At the time of termination for 
the HCP phase of the permit, the safe-harbor provision would provide 
the Applicant relief from regulatory restrictions on timber-management 
activities in habitats provided for listed species which are greater 
than the habitat amounts required under the HCP.
    The HCP is designed to complement the Federal Northwest Forest 
Plan, and includes various forms of mitigation which are integral parts 
of the HCP. Mitigation includes a schedule of habitat amounts to be 
provided for each decade of the 50-year HCP. These habitats include 
eight stand-structure types (ranging from early-successional stages, 
such as stand initiation, to late-successional stages, such as old 
growth) and habitat for owls. Owl-habitat projections include 
projections for nesting, roosting, and foraging habitat, and for 
foraging and dispersal habitat. Mitigation for gray wolves and grizzly 
bears include avoidance of timber harvest and road construction in 
certain habitats, limits to road densities, provision of visual cover, 
and other specific management prescriptions. Minimum prescriptions are 
also provided for riparian and wetland areas, and Watershed Analysis 
will be completed on an accelerated basis. Specific prescriptions to 
minimize and mitigate impacts will also be implemented for other 
species and special habitats.
    The DEIS considers four alternatives, including the Proposed Action 
and the No-action Alternatives. Under the No-action Alternative, the 
Applicant would avoid the take of all Federally listed species and no 
permit would be issued. Under the Riparian Alternative, emphasis for 
conservation of fish and wildlife species would be placed in riparian 
and wetland areas; other portions of the ownership would be managed for 
aggressive timber harvest. Under the Dispersal Alternative, riparian 
areas would be managed for fish and wildlife, but, in addition, upland 
areas would be managed to provide dispersal habitat for owls. The 
Proposed Action builds upon the benefits of the previous alternatives. 
It places emphasis for conservation on riparian and wetland areas, but, 
also, commits to implementation of the Applicant's Environmental 
Principles; provides for nesting, roosting, and foraging habitat for 
owls, and provides for habitat deferrals for owls and goshawks. The 
Proposed Action includes specific mitigation for other currently listed 
and unlisted wildlife species such as the gray wolf, grizzly bear, 
Larch Mountain salamander, and 

[[Page 57724]]
other vertebrate species and special habitats.

    Dated: November 6, 1995.
Thomas J. Dwyer,
Deputy Regional Director, Region 1, Portland, Oregon.
[FR Doc. 95-27962 Filed 11-16-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P