[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 43 (Monday, March 4, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8301-8302]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-4934]



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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Availability of an Environmental Assessment and Receipt of an 
Application for an Incidental Take Permit for Timber Management 
Practices in Conecuh and Monroe Counties, Alabama by MacMillan Bloedel 
Timberlands, Incorporated

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: MacMillan Bloedel Timberlands, Incorporated, (Applicant) has 
applied to the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) for an incidental 
take permit pursuant to Section 10(a)(1)(B) of the Endangered Species 
Act (Act). The proposed permit would authorize for a period of 30 years 
the incidental take of a threatened species, the Red Hills salamander, 
Phaeognathus hubrichti, known to occupy lands owned by the Applicant in 
Conecuh and Monroe Counties, south-central Alabama.
    The Service also announces the availability of an Environmental 
Assessment (EA) and Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) for the incidental 
take application. The Applicant's HCP describes Phaeognathus hubrichti 
conservation measures to be employed to address the anticipated level 
of incidental take. The EA prepared by the Service describes the 
environmental consequences of issuing or denying the Applicant's 
request for an incidental take permit. As stated in the EA, the Service 
proposes to issue the requested permit. This proposal is based on a 
preliminary determination that the Applicant has satisfied the 
requirements for permit issuance and that the HCP provides conservation 
benefits to Phaeognathus hubrichti. This notice also advises the public 
that the Service has made a preliminary determination that issuing the 
incidental take permit is not a major Federal action significantly 
affecting the quality of the human environment within the meaning of 
Section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as 
amended. The Finding of No Significant Impact is based on information 
contained in the EA and HCP. The final determination will be made no 
sooner than 30 days from the date of this notice. This notice is 
provided pursuant to Section 10 of the Act and National 
Environmental Policy Act Regulations (40 CFR 1506.6). Copies of the EA 
and HCP may be obtained by making a written request to the Regional 
Office [See ADDRESSES below]. Note that requests must be in writing to 
be properly processed.

DATES: Written comments should be received on or before April 3, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Persons wishing to review the application may obtain a copy 
by writing the Service's Southeast Regional Office, Atlanta, Georgia. 
Persons wishing to review the EA or HCP may obtain a copy by writing 
the Regional Office or the Jackson, Mississippi, Field Office. 
Documents will also be available for public inspection, by appointment, 
during normal business hours at the Regional Office, or the Field 
Office. Written data or comments concerning the application, EA, or HCP 
should be submitted to the Regional Office. Please reference permit 
number PRT-811415 in such comments:

Regional Permit Coordinator, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1875 
Century Boulevard, Suite 200, Atlanta, Georgia (404-679-7110, fax 404-
679-7081)
Field Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 6578 Dogwood View 
Parkway, Suite A, Jackson, Mississippi 39213 (601-965-4900, fax 601-
965-4340)

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Will McDearman, Jackson, Mississippi 
Field Office or Rick Gooch at the Atlanta, Georgia Regional Office.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 9 of the Act, and implementing 
regulations, prohibits the take of threatened and endangered species. 
Take, in part, is defined as an activity that kills, injures, harms, or 
harasses a listed endangered or threatened species.
    Section 10(a)(1)(B) of the Act provides an exemption, under certain 
circumstances, to the Section 9 prohibition if the taking is incidental 
to, and not the purpose of an otherwise lawful activities.
    Phaeognathus hubrichti is a plethodontid salamander and the sole 
member of its genus. Its range is confined to a small area of southern 
Alabama. Portions of the Applicant's lands in the Red Hills 
physiographic province of south-central Alabama are occupied by this 
species. According to the surveys identified in the HCP, the Applicant 
owns approximately 3,800 acres within the species' historic range in 
Conecuh and Monroe Counties. The Applicant's HCP attempts to define 
certain management prescriptions according to known occurrences of 
Phaeognathus hubrichti as well as the species' habitat selection 
preferences. The HCP identifies three habitat classifications: Optimal; 
Moderately Suitable; and Marginal. The Applicant owns approximately 
1,200 acres; 1,300 acres; and 1,300 acres, respectively of each habitat 
type.
    Within the Optimal habitats of the Applicant's properties 
encompassed by the HCP, either no timber harvests will occur or very 
limited single tree selections with at least 90 percent hardwood canopy 
maintained. To minimize impacts to the soil, any trees removed from 
optimal habitat will be felled by chain saw and pulled from the area by 
cable, or other applicable method with no heavy machinery permitted in 
the area.
    Within the Moderately Suitable habitats of the Applicant's 
properties encompassed by the HCP, an increased level of selective 
cutting (followed by natural regeneration of tree species 
characteristic of Phaeognathus hubrichti habitat), provided hardwood 
canopy cover is not reduced by more than 35 percent.
    Within the Marginal to Unsuitable habitats, options on these areas 
will include normal silvicultural practices, such as clearcutting, 
select tree harvest, chemical and mechanical site preparation, 
replanting, and prescribed burning. Clear-cut areas will be planted 
with pine or hardwood seedlings. Site preparation methods vary 
depending on the site but usually will include a combination of 
herbicides and fire. Although rotation lengths may change in the future 
due to economic and/or biological considerations, plantations are 
currently managed on a pulpwood/sawtimber rotation averaging 20-35 
years. Prescribed burning rotations range from 3 to 7 years.
    Pest or disease infested trees are removed from all habitat 
classification, if necessary, to prevent further infection of healthy 
trees. Forested buffers of approximately 50 feet width will be 
maintained above and below areas classified as Phaeognathus hubrichti 
Optimal habitat. Timber harvesting will be conducted within these 
buffers with at least 50 percent of the canopy cover maintained.
    The HCP also contained funding for the development of an integrated 


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management plan incorporating the above prescriptions, as well as 
employee/contractor training, and maintenance of the permit's terms and 
conditions.
    The EA considers the environmental consequences of two 
alternatives. The no action alternative would probably result in 
continued insidious and direct habitat loss for Phaeognathus hubrichti 
resulting in further jeopardy to the species and continued exposure of 
the Applicant under Section 9 of the Act. This action is inconsistent 
with the purposes and intent of Section 10 of the Act. The proposed 
action alternative is issuance of the incidental take permit. The 
issuance of the permit will be predicated on implementation of the 
Applicant's HCP, and the measures contained in the authorizing permit.

    Dated: February 26, 1996.
Noreen K. Clough,
Regional Director.
[FR Doc. 96-4934 Filed 3-1-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P