[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 193 (Monday, October 6, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52147-52148]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-26398]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for 
Issuance of an Incidental Take Permit to the California Department of 
Forestry and Fire Protection

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior; National Marine Fisheries 
Service, NOAA, Commerce; and California Department of Forestry and Fire 
Protection.

ACTION: Notice of Intent.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine 
Fisheries Service (collectively ``the Services''), and the California 
Department of Forestry and Fire Protection intend to prepare an 
Environmental Impact Statement/ Environmental Impact Report for: (1) 
approval of a Habitat Conservation Plan, and issuance of an incidental 
take permit, pursuant to section 10(a) of the Endangered Species Act of 
1973, as amended; and (2) approval of the Jackson Demonstration State 
Forest's Sustained Yield Plan by the California Department of Forestry 
and Fire Protection, including consideration of conservation measures 
or plans addressing State-listed species. The Habitat Conservation Plan 
will cover forest management and recreation activities on the Jackson 
Demonstration State Forest in Mendocino County, California. The 
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Applicant) 
intends to request an incidental take permit for the northern spotted 
owl (Strix occidentalis caurina), marbled murrelet (Brachyramphus 
marmoratus marmoratus), American peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus 
anatum), and coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch). It is anticipated that 
the Applicant may also seek coverage for approximately 20 unlisted 
species of concern (fish, wildlife, and plants) under specific 
provisions of the permit, should these species be listed in the future.
    Public Involvement: This notice is being furnished pursuant to the 
Council on Environmental Quality Regulations for Implementing the 
Procedural Provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act. 
Pursuant to regulations at 40 CFR (sections 1501.7 and 1508.22), the 
Services are seeking suggestions and information from other agencies 
and the public on the scope of issues and alternatives to be considered 
in preparation of the Environmental Impact Statement. To satisfy both 
Federal and State environmental policy act requirements, the above 
Federal and California agencies are conducting a joint scoping process 
for the preparation of environmental documents.

DATES: In order to expedite the planning process, the above agencies 
request all scoping comments on this notice be received by October 31, 
1997. A public scoping meeting for interested persons to comment on the 
scope of the Environmental Impact Statement has been scheduled for 
Wednesday, October 8, 1997, from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., at the Cotton 
Auditorium Fort Bragg Middle School, 500 North Harold Street, Fort 
Bragg, California.

ADDRESSES: Comments regarding the scope of the Environmental Impact 
Statement should be addressed to Mr. Bruce Halstead, Project Leader, 
Coastal California Fish and Wildlife Office, 1125 16th Street, Room 
209, Arcata, California 95521-5582; telephone (707) 822-7201. Written 
comments may also be sent by facsimile to (707) 822-8411. Comments 
received will be available for public inspection by appointment during 
normal business hours (Monday through Friday; 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.) 
at the above office. All comments received, including names and 
addresses, will become part of the administrative record and may be 
made available to the public.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Contact Ms. Amedee Brickey, at the above 
address.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Applicant manages the Jackson 
Demonstration State Forest, a 50,195-acre area in Mendocino County, 
California. The Jackson Demonstration State Forest is managed for a 
variety of benefits including ``demonstration'' forestry projects, 
watershed, fisheries, and wildlife in cooperation with University of 
California at Berkeley, Humboldt State University, the California 
Department of Fish and Game, the U.S. Forest Service's Pacific 
Southwest Experiment Station, and others. Estimated annual timber 
volume growth on the forest is 46 million board feet with a total 
volume for the property of 2.3 billion board feet, 4 times greater than 
when the forest was acquired by the Applicant fifty years ago. The 
annual volume harvested is about 28 million board feet or about 1.2 
percent of the total inventory. The Jackson Demonstration State Forest 
also provides recreation in the form of camping, biking, horse riding 
and

[[Page 52148]]

hiking, and protects a number of prehistoric and archaeological sites.
    The Environmental Impact Statement will evaluate various forest and 
recreation management alternatives for the planning area, including a 
current project alternative, a baseline forest management alternative, 
and at least two enhanced conservation alternatives.
    The current project alternative would include continuing forest 
management of the Jackson Demonstration State Forest to meet or exceed 
current Forest Practice Rules. As a demonstration forest, the current 
forest management practices on the Jackson Demonstration State Forest 
go beyond the current California Forest Practice Rules in terms of 
biological resource protection. This alternative defines the moderate 
timber productivity management situation and the moderate wildlife 
protection management situation.
    The baseline forest management alternative would include current 
Forest Practice Rules only. This alternative defines the maximum timber 
productivity management situation and the minimum wildlife protection 
management situation.
    The first enhanced conservation alternative would take a multi-
species approach, and include measures for maintaining or enhancing 
habitat for listed species covered under the permit as well as some 
unlisted species. This alternative is expected to include a well 
developed monitoring and adaptive management program that is sufficient 
to minimize significant adverse impacts on the habitat of sensitive 
species. The timber program under this alternative, while falling short 
of competitive economic efficiency, would be expected to provide a 
sustainable and economically viable timber harvest program. The timber 
program would substantially exceed the requirements of the State Forest 
Practice Rules. This alternative would define a moderate to 
conservative timber production management situation and a moderate 
wildlife conservation management situation.
    The second enhanced conservation alternative would describe an 
increased level of habitat conservation for listed and unlisted 
species, relative to the first enhanced conservation alternative, to 
reduce the risk of significant adverse impacts. This alternative would 
set the most restrictive forest management practices in recognition of 
scientific uncertainty regarding potential impacts of timber management 
activities on sensitive species and their habitats. While expected to 
provide increased protection for covered species, this alternative 
would limit the ability of the Jackson Demonstration State Forest to 
function as a demonstration and timber production forest. This enhanced 
conservation alternative would define a timber management situation 
that is reduced to a low or custodial management level and an enhanced 
wildlife conservation management situation.
    Once completed, it is expected that the Applicant will submit the 
Habitat Conservation Plan as part of the incidental take permit 
application process, as required under the provisions of section 
10(a)(2)(A) of the Endangered Species Act. It is anticipated that the 
permit application for incidental take will include the northern 
spotted owl, marbled murrelet, American peregrine falcon, and coho 
salmon. The permit application is also expected to include an agreement 
covering conservation of certain unlisted species. The Services will 
evaluate the incidental take permit application and associated Habitat 
Conservation Plan in accordance with section 10(a) of the Endangered 
Species Act, and its implementing regulations.
    Environmental review of the permit application, including the 
Habitat Conservation Plan, will be conducted in accordance with the 
requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act and its 
implementing regulations. A No Action/No Project alternative will be 
considered consistent with the requirements of the National 
Environmental Policy Act and the California Environmental Quality Act.
    The Applicant will also be preparing a Sustained Yield Plan 
pursuant to the provisions under Article 6.75 of the California Forest 
Practice Rules, including consideration of conservation measures or 
plans addressing state-listed species under the California Endangered 
Species Act. It is expected that a section 2090 or 2081 agreement will 
be issued by the California Department of Fish and Game under the 
California Fish and Game code for selected state-listed species that 
potentially occur on the Jackson Demonstration State Forest.

    Dated: September 29, 1997.
Don Weathers,
Acting, Regional Director, Region 1, Portland, Oregon.
[FR Doc. 97-26398 Filed 10-3-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P