[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]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P