[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 15 (Thursday, January 23, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3516-3517]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-1601]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Availability of an Environmental Assessment and Receipt of an 
Application for a Permit To Allow Incidental Take of Threatened and 
Endangered Species by Weyerhaeuser Company on Portions of its Lands in 
Lane, Linn, Benton, and Douglas Counties, Oregon

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: The Weyerhaeuser Company has applied to the U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service 
(collectively, the Services) for an incidental take permit pursuant to 
section 10(a)(1)(B) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended 
(Act). They have also requested approval of an unlisted species 
agreement covering other species which may be found in the planning 
area. The application has been assigned U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 
permit number PRT-823550 and National Marine Fisheries Service permit 
number P626. The Services also announce the availability of an 
Environmental Assessment (Assessment) for the proposed issuance of the 
incidental take permit. 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, Assessment, and 
associated documents (see ADDRESSES below) should be received 60 days 
from the date of this publication.

ADDRESSES: Comments regarding the application, Assessment, and 
associated documents (a Habitat Conservation Plan [Plan] and 
Implementing Agreement) or requests for those documents, should be 
addressed to Curt Smitch, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Pacific 
Northwest Habitat Conservation Plan Program, 3773 Martin Way East, 
Building C, Suite 101, Olympia, Washington 98501. Please refer to 
permit number PRT-823550 when submitting comments. Individuals seeking 
copies of the application package should immediately contact the above 
office.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:Mr. David J. Hirsh, U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service, or Mr. Steve Landino, National Marine Fisheries 
Service, at the above address; telephone (360) 534-9330.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under section 9 of the Act and its 
implementing regulations, ``taking'' of threatened and endangered 
species is prohibited. However, the Services, 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 codified in 50 CFR 17.22 and 
17.32 and 222.2.
    The Weyerhaeuser Company has addressed, in its Plan, species 
conservation and ecosystem management on approximately 400,000 acres of 
land in the Willamette Valley and foothills of the Central Cascade 
Mountains and Coast Ranges of Oregon. The subject ownership occurs in 
two largely contiguous blocks with some portions in a ``checkerboard'' 
pattern with other Federal and non-Federal land. The proposed Plan 
would be implemented for 40 years with the Services retaining the 
option to extend the term for up to four additional ten-year periods.
    The proposed Plan addresses, in three tiers, the species for which 
the Weyerhaeuser Company seeks coverage under section 10 of the Act. 
The first tier includes certain species currently listed or proposed 
for listing; those species are named below. The second tier includes 
presently unlisted species that are associated with habitats that are 
addressed through various measures in the proposed Plan. The third tier 
includes presently unlisted species that are associated with older, 
upland, interior forests. Tier 1 and 2 species would be covered upon 
approval of the Plan by the Services. Tier 3 species could become 
covered if the Weyerhaeuser Company can show that the proposed Plan 
benefits the species and those benefits have led to presence in the 
Plan area.
    The Weyerhaeuser Company is requesting a permit for the incidental 
take of the northern spotted owl (Strix occidentalis caurina) which 
would occur as a result of timber harvest and related activities within 
the individual portions of the owl sites present on the subject 
property. There are currently more than 160 owl sites that impact 
Weyerhaeuser Company operations within the 400,000-acre planning area. 
The Weyerhaeuser Company plans to avoid the take of the marbled 
murrelet (Brachyramphus marmoratus marmoratus), but has included 
murrelets in the permit application in case some unanticipated 
incidental take occurs. The Weyerhaeuser Company has also included the 
Umpqua cutthroat trout (Oncorhyncus clarki clarki), American peregrine 
falcon (Falco peregrinus), Columbian whitetailed deer (Odocoileus 
virginianus leucurus), bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), Aleutian 
Canada goose (Branta canadensis leucopareia), and Oregon chub 
(Oregonichthys crameri) in the permit application to cover 
circumstances where these species may occur on the subject property and 
could at some point be subject to take.
    The Plan is designed to complement measures being implemented on 
Federal lands under the Northwest Forest Plan, and includes various 
forms of minimization and mitigation measures which are integral parts 
of the Plan. It includes a schedule for early successional forest types 
to be provided across the landscape during the entire course of plan 
implementation. Mitigation for other presently listed species and 
species proposed for listing include specific management prescriptions 
for those species. For example, the strategy for the northern spotted 
owl was developed to facilitate connectivity between the Federal Late 
Successional Reserves in the Oregon Cascades and Coast Ranges. In 
addition to the specific measures for listed and proposed species, the 
Plan proposes a comprehensive riparian management strategy, the 
protection of special biotope areas such as forested wetlands, mineral 
springs, talus slopes, and caves (among others), supplemental habitat 
protection for selected species of concern such as pond habitat for the 
northwestern pond turtle, and reproductive habitat around known nest 
sites for golden eagles and osprey.
    Minimum interim prescriptions are provided for riparian and wetland 
areas, and prescription development through Watershed Analysis 
processes according to Washington State regulations will also be 
completed. Specific prescriptions will also be implemented for the 
management of areas, such as roads and steep slopes, that are 
vulnerable to degrading events.
    The Assessment considers four alternatives, including the proposed 
Plan and the no-action alternatives. Under Alternative A, the no-action 
alternative, the Weyerhaeuser Company would avoid the take of any and 
all Federally listed species and no permit would be issued. Under 
Alternative C, conservation of the northern spotted owl and marbled 
murrelet would be implemented to minimize and mitigate

[[Page 3517]]

for the effects of authorized take of only those two species. Under 
Alternative D, the applicant would manage the ownership based on 
standards and guidelines for Matrix land under the Northwest Forest 
Plan. Alternative B, the Proposed Habitat Conservation Plan 
Alternative, would provide minimizing and mitigating measures for 
proposed take of the listed and currently proposed species mentioned 
above. In addition, protection for unlisted species would be provided 
through the retention of habitat structures from harvested stands into 
the subsequent rotation, buffering of habitat biotopes, supplemental 
habitat management, and through overall landscape level management 
goals.

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1531-1544, and 4201-4245.

    Dated: January 16, 1997.
Thomas J. Dwyer,
Acting Regional Director, Region 1, Portland, Oregon.
[FR Doc. 97-1601 Filed 1-22-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P