[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 175 (Monday, September 9, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 47525]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-22921]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service


Notice of Decision and Availability of Two Record of Decision 
Documents on the Issuance of Permits for Incidental Take of Threatened 
and Endangered Species

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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    Record of Decision for the Proposed Issuance of a Section 
10(a)(1)(B) Permit for the Incidental Take of Stephens' Kangaroo Rat, 
Riverside County, California; and Record of Decision for the Proposed 
Issuance of a Permit to Allow Incidental Take of Threatened and 
Endangered Species to Plum Creek Timber Company, L.P., for Lands in the 
I-90 Corridor of King and Kittitas Counties, Washington.

SUMMARY: This notice advises the public that a decision on the 
applications for permits by the Riverside County Habitat Conservation 
Agency and Plum Creek Timber Company, L.P. (Plum Creek), pursuant to 
section 10(a)(1)(B) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended, 
have been made and that the Records of Decision are available.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For the Riverside County Habitat 
Conservation Agency: Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 
Carlsbad Field Office, 2730 Loker Avenue West, Carlsbad, California 
92008, telephone (619) 431-9440, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 
5:00 p.m. weekdays, and for Plum Creek: Supervisor, U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service, Western Washington Office, 3704 Griffin Lane SE, 
Suite 102, Olympia, Washington 98501-2192, telephone (360-753-9440). 
Individuals wishing copies of the Records of Decision should contact 
the respective U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Office.

Riverside County Habitat Conservation Agency Decision

    The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's decision is to adopt the 
Preferred Alternative and issue a permit authorizing incidental take of 
Stephens' kangaroo rats to the Riverside County Habitat Conservation 
Agency based on the Long-Term Habitat Conservation Plan in western 
Riverside County, as described in the final Environmental Impact 
Statement/Report. This decision is based on a thorough review of the 
alternatives and their environmental consequences. By adopting the 
preferred alternative with its assurances that the mitigation program 
and enforcement measures be implemented, all practicable means to avoid 
or minimize harm have been adopted.

Rationale for Decision

    Implementation of the Long-Term Habitat Conservation Plan has been 
selected as the Preferred Alternative based on consideration of a 
number of environmental and social factors. These factors include: (1) 
proposed mitigation and minimization measures in the Long-Term Habitat 
Conservation Plan that would benefit Stephens' kangaroo rats on a 
regional scale in the core habitat area for the species by establishing 
seven Core Reserves; (2) the incidental take would occur within western 
Riverside County, where a viable population of Stephens' kangaroo rats 
cannot be maintained over the long-term; and (3) the proposed permit 
would allow incidental take of Stephens' kangaroo rats in areas outside 
the Core Reserves providing the opportunity for more orderly 
development and minimizing impacts to the social environment within 
western Riverside County.

Plum Creek Decision

    The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's decision is to adopt the 
Preferred Habitat Conservation Plan Alternative, issue a permit 
authorizing incidental take of listed species and enter into an 
unlisted species agreement as described in the final Environmental 
Impact Statement. This decision is based on a thorough review of the 
alternatives and their environmental consequences. By adopting the 
preferred alternative with its assurances that the mitigation program 
and enforcement measures be implemented, all practicable means to avoid 
or minimize harm have been adopted.

Rationale for Decision

    The Proposed Habitat Conservation Plan Alternative, as described in 
the applicant's Habitat Conservation Plan and analyzed in the final 
Environmental Impact Statement, provides the most comprehensive package 
of conservation prescriptions and activities of all of the 
Alternatives. None of the other alternatives provide as integrated and 
comprehensive a package of habitat conservation as the Proposed Habitat 
Conservation Plan Alternative. The Proposed Habitat Conservation Plan 
Alternative specifically addresses four listed species, two listed 
species for which incidental take coverage is not currently sought, 
riparian habitat management which captures the majority of species that 
might inhabit the plan area, including anadromous salmonids which are 
the subject of Federal Tribal Trust responsibility. Furthermore, the 
Proposed Habitat Conservation Plan Alternative provides management 
goals for 16 Lifeforms and associated species, as well as special 
habitat management such as caves, talus slopes, wetlands and snags. 
Only the Proposed Habitat Conservation Plan Alternative addresses 
talus, caves, wetlands, riparian management, Old Growth and spotted owl 
nesting, roosting, and foraging habitat, murrelets, owls, grizzly 
bears, gray wolves, snags, roads and accelerated watershed analysis. No 
other alternative addresses all of these resource concerns, together, 
in an integrated way.

    Dated: August 28, 1996.
Thomas Dwyer,
Acting Regional Director, Region 1, Portland, Oregon.
[FR Doc. 96-22921 Filed 9-06-96; 8:45 am]
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