[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 39 (Thursday, February 27, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8980-8981]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-4836]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service


Notice of Decision and Availability 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 decision and availability of a Record of Decision on 
the issuance of a permit for incidental take of threatened and 
endangered species.

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SUMMARY: This notice advises the public that a decision on the 
application for an incidental take permit by the State of Washington 
Department of Natural Resources, pursuant to section 10(a)(1)(B) of the 
Endangered Species Act of 1973 (Act), has been made and that the Record 
of Decision is available upon request.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: William Vogel or Craig Hansen, U.S. 
Fish and Wildlife Service, or Steve Landino, National Marine Fisheries 
Service at the Pacific Northwest Habitat Conservation Plan Program, 
3704 Griffin Lane SE, Suite 102, Olympia, Washington 98501-2192; (360) 
753-9440.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

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 agree to the 
unlisted species provisions in the Implementation Agreement, as 
described in the final Environmental Impact Statement. In the future, 
should any of the currently unlisted species that use the habitat types 
that occur within the West-side Planning Units (including the Olympic 
Experimental State Forest) subsequently become listed, the Washington 
Department of Natural Resources may request that those species be added 
to the incidental take permit. 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 will be implemented, all 
practicable means to avoid or minimize harm have been adopted.

[[Page 8981]]

Rationale for Decision

    The decision to issue the permit and sign the Implementation 
Agreement was made because the Habitat Conservation Plan proposed by 
the Washington Department of Natural Resources to comply with the 
Endangered Species Act, as well as its legal and constitutional 
mandates as the trustee manager of State timber lands, meets the 
statutory criteria for issuance of an incidental take permit under 
section 10 of the Act, as well as the Fish and Wildlife Service's trust 
responsibility to Native American Tribes. The Proposed Habitat 
Conservation Plan Alternative specifically addresses listed species 
throughout the planning area and riparian habitat management which 
captures the majority of species that might inhabit the planning units 
west of the Cascade Crest, including anadromous salmonids which are a 
resource subject to the Fish and Wildlife Service's trust 
responsibility. Furthermore, the Proposed Habitat Conservation Plan 
Alternative provides management goals for all forest types throughout 
the planning area, and associated species, as well as special habitat 
management for habitats such as large trees, caves, talus slopes, 
wetlands, oak woodlands, down logs, and standing snags in the planning 
units west of the Cascade Crest.
    The permit was granted only after the Fish and Wildlife Service 
determined that the permit was applied for in good faith, that all 
permit issuance criteria were met, including the requirement that 
granting the permit would not jeopardize the continued existence of the 
species, and that the permit is consistent with the purposes and 
policies set forth in the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended.

    Dated: February 20, 1997.
Donald V. Friberg,
Regional Director, Region 1, Portland, Oregon.
[FR Doc. 97-4836 Filed 2-26-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P