[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 208 (Tuesday, October 28, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55824-55825]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-28482]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service


Public Scoping Meetings for Proposed Habitat Conservation Plan

AGENCIES: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior; National Marine 
Fisheries Service, NOAA, Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of public scoping meetings.

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SUMMARY: The Oregon Department of Forestry (Applicant) has begun the 
development of a Habitat Conservation Plan (Plan) for state forest 
lands managed by the Applicant. The Applicant intends to submit the 
Plan to the Fish and Wildlife Service and National Marine Fisheries 
Service (collectively, ``the Services''), along with an application for 
an incidental take permit under section 10(a)(1)(B) of the Endangered 
Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act).
    This notice advises the public that the Services and Applicant have 
scheduled a series of public meetings to inform the public of a 
proposed Plan and the process of application for incidental take 
permits. The Services are seeking suggestions and information from 
other agencies and the public on the scope of issues related to the 
development of a Plan, including the range of alternatives that should 
be considered in the environmental review documents required under the 
National Environmental Policy Act. Public input may be written or oral 
(if provided at any of the public meetings). Information on dates and 
deadlines is provided below.

DATES: Comments should be received on or before February 3, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Comments regarding the scope of the environmental assessment 
or environmental impact statement should be labeled as ``Attention--ODF 
HCP'' and addressed to Mr. Russell Peterson at: Oregon State Office, 
Fish and Wildlife Service, 2600 SE 98th Avenue, Suite 100, Portland, 
Oregon 97266; telephone (503) 231-6179. Written comments may also be 
sent by facsimile to (503) 231-6195.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Contact Mr. Joseph Zisa at the above address.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The Applicant has initiated the development of a multi-species 
Habitat Conservation Plan under the provisions of section 10(a)(1)(B) 
of the Act, in consultation with the Services. The Plan will be 
submitted to the Services as part of an application for an incidental 
take permit for approximately 630,000 acres of state forest land. This 
acreage includes approximately 520,000 acres in the Tillamook and 
Clatsop State Forests in northwest Oregon and approximately 48,000 
acres in the Santiam State Forest. The remaining covered acreage would 
include all other state forest lands west of the Cascade Mountains 
crest, with the exception of the Elliott State Forest in Coos and 
Douglas Counties. The Services issued an incidental take permit for the 
Elliott State Forest in 1995.
    Once completed, the Applicant would submit the Plan as part of the 
incidental take permit application. The Services would evaluate the 
incidental take permit application and associated Plan in accordance 
with section 10(a)(2)(B) of the Act, and its implementing regulations. 
The environmental review of the Plan would be conducted in accordance 
with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act and its 
implementing regulations, as well as the implementing regulations of 
the Endangered Species Act. A No Action/No Project alternative will be 
considered consistent with the requirements of the National 
Environmental Policy Act.
    The proposed incidental take permit would cover the Applicant's 
management activities that would result in the incidental take of 
species currently listed under the Act. Additionally, the applicant 
would be requesting federal assurances regarding other, presently 
unlisted species occurring or potentially occurring on the above lands. 
Presently listed species that the proposed Plan and incidental take 
permit would potentially cover include the threatened northern spotted 
owl (Strix occidentalis caurina), the threatened marbled murrelet 
(Brachyramphus marmoratus marmoratus), the threatened bald eagle 
(Haliaeetus leucocephalus), and the endangered American peregrine 
falcon (Falco peregrinus anatum). The proposed agreement covering 
conservation of unlisted species would include the proposed threatened 
coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) and other species.
    During this scoping process, the Services seek public and agency 
input regarding the development of the proposed Plan and potential 
issuance of incidental take permits.
    Should the decision be made that an environmental impact statement 
is appropriate, a separate Notice of Intent will be published in the 
Federal Register. Comments received during the scoping process 
referenced in this notice and any additional comments received 
following a future Notice of Intent shall be considered in the 
preparation of a draft environmental impact statement. At this time, 
the Services cannot estimate the time following the completion of this 
scoping process necessary for a decision regarding the selection of 
National Environmental Policy Act documentation and additional scoping.
    Draft Plan and National Environmental Policy Act documents are not 
expected to be available for public review during this scoping process. 
The information gathered from scoping will be utilized in the 
development of such documents prior to a formal public review process 
later in 1998.
    The Applicant is expected to present some of its proposals for the 
Plan to the public during the upcoming scoping meetings. These 
proposals do not necessarily represent those that will be included in 
the Plan as it undergoes further development. Such proposals may not be 
the product of complete consultation with the Services and have not 
been subject to formal evaluation for adequacy by the Services.

Meetings

    As an opportunity for interested persons to comment on the scope of 
the environmental assessment or environmental impact statement and 
issues related to the development of the Plan, public scoping meetings 
are scheduled as follows:

November 17, 1997, Oregon Department of Forestry District Office, 
4907 Third Street, Tillamook, Oregon, 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
November 18, 1997, Red Lion Inn, Chinook Room, 400 Industry Street, 
Astoria, Oregon, 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
November 20, 1997, World Forestry Center, Portland, Oregon, 6:30 
p.m. to 10:00 p.m., preceded by an informational workshop from 1:00 
p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
December 2, 1997, Oregon Department of Forestry Headquarters, 
Conference Room, 2600 State Street, Salem, Oregon, 7:00 p.m. to 
10:00 p.m.
December 3, 1997, Lane Community College, Forum Room 308, Eugene, 
Oregon, 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

(For more detailed information regarding the above locations, please 
contact the Oregon Department of Forestry's Public Affairs Office at 
telephone (503) 945-7422 or (800) 482-6866.)

[[Page 55825]]

Comments

    Comments received will be available for public inspection by 
appointment during normal business hours (8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., 
Monday through Friday) 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.

    Authority: This notice is being furnished pursuant to the 
Council on Environmental Quality Regulations for Implementing the 
Procedural Provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act 
Regulations (40 CFR sections 1501.7 and 1508.22) to obtain 
suggestions and information from other agencies and the public on 
the scope of issues and alternatives that would be analyzed or 
considered in preparation of an environmental assessment or 
environmental impact statement.

    Dated: October 22, 1997.
Thomas J. Dwyer,
Acting Regional Director, Region 1, Portland, Oregon, Fish and Wildlife 
Service.
[FR Doc. 97-28482 Filed 10-27-97; 8:45 am]
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