[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 161 (Thursday, August 20, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44634-44635]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-22267]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service


Notice of Intent To Conduct Public Scoping and Prepare an 
Environmental Document

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

ACTION: Notice of intent to conduct public scoping and prepare an 
environmental document.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act this notice 
advises the public that the Fish and Wildlife Service and National 
Marine Fisheries Service (Services) intend to gather information 
necessary to prepare an environmental document (environmental 
assessment or environmental impact statement) related to the proposed 
approval of a Habitat Conservation Plan (Plan) and issuance of an 
incidental take permit (Permit) to take endangered and threatened 
species in accordance with section 10(a) of the Endangered Species Act 
of 1973, as amended (Act). The Permit applicant is Crown Pacific, Ltd., 
and the application is related to forest management and timber harvest 
on a portion of the Hamilton Tree Farm located in Whatcom and Skagit 
Counties, Washington. Crown Pacific intends to request a Permit for 
northern spotted owl, marbled murrelet, and possibly bald eagle, 
peregrine falcon, grizzly bear, and gray wolf. Crown Pacific may also 
seek coverage for approximately 20 currently unlisted species of 
concern (including anadromous and resident fish) under specific 
provisions of the Permit, should these species be listed in the future. 
In accordance with the Act, Crown Pacific is preparing a Plan for, 
among other things, minimizing and mitigating any such take which could 
occur incidental to the proposed Permit activities (forest management 
and timber harvest).
    The Services are furnishing this notice in order to: (1) Advise 
other agencies and the public of our intentions; and (2) to obtain 
suggestions and information on the scope of issues to include in the 
environmental document.

DATES: Written comments should be received on or before September 21, 
1998.

ADDRESSES: Address comments and requests for more information to: Brian 
Bogaczyk, Fish and Wildlife Service, 510 Desmond Drive, S.E., Suite 
102, Lacey, Washington 98503, (360) 753-5824; or Matt Longenbaugh, 
National Marine Fisheries Service, 510 Desmond Drive, S.E., Suite 103, 
Lacey, Washington 98503, (360) 753-7761.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Crown Pacific, Ltd., owns and manages 
Hamilton Tree Farm, located in Whatcom and Skagit Counties, Washington. 
The proposed Plan area is composed of several parcels of the Hamilton 
Tree Farm, totaling 84,430 acres, and is located north and south of 
State Highway 20, roughly between Sedro-Woolley and Marblemount, 
Washington. Management activities on the tree farm include forest 
management and timber harvest. A portion of the proposed Plan area, 
Arlecho Creek, is in the process of being transferred to the Nature 
Conservancy and the Lummi Indian Nation, with the understanding that 
the property will be managed as a natural/cultural area. The transfer 
is expected to be completed in late 1999.
    Some timber management activities have the potential to impact 
species subject to protection under the Act. Section 10 of the Act 
contains provisions for the issuance of incidental take permits to non-
Federal land owners for the take of endangered and threatened species, 
provided the take is incidental to otherwise lawful activities, and 
will not appreciably reduce the likelihood of the survival and recovery 
of the species in the wild. In addition, the applicant must prepare and 
submit to the Services for approval, a Plan containing a strategy for 
minimizing and mitigating all take associated with the proposed 
activities to the maximum extent practicable. The applicant must also 
ensure that adequate funding for the Plan will be provided.
    Crown Pacific has initiated discussions with the Services regarding 
the possibility of a Permit and associated Plan for their activities on 
the Hamilton Tree Farm. Activities proposed thus far for Permit 
coverage include the following: site preparation;

[[Page 44635]]

tree planting; harvesting and yarding of timber; construction, 
maintenance and use of logging roads and landings; quarrying of stone 
and gravel for use in those roads and landings; and cellular phone and 
radio repeater tower sites.
    The Services will conduct an environmental review of the Plan and 
prepare an environmental document (environmental assessment or 
environmental impact statement). The environmental review will analyze 
the proposal as well as a full range of reasonable alternatives, and 
the associated impacts of each. The Services are currently in the 
process of developing alternatives for analysis. There are four 
alternatives proposed thus far. Under Alternative A (no action 
alternative) no Permit is issued and take will be avoided for any and 
all threatened and endangered species on the property. Alternative B 
(preferred alternative) involves issuing a Permit for six threatened 
and endangered species on the property (bald eagle, peregrine falcon, 
marbled murrelet, northern spotted owl, grizzly bear, gray wolf) with 
provisions for approximately 20 unlisted species. The Plan would have 
minimization and mitigation measures for six threatened and endangered 
species and approximately 20 unlisted species on the property. 
Alternative C involves issuing a Permit for northern spotted owl and 
marbled murrelet only, with provisions for approximately 20 unlisted 
species. The Plan would have minimization and mitigation measures for 
northern spotted owl and marbled murrelet and approximately 20 unlisted 
species. Alternative D involves a Candidate Conservation Agreement with 
minimization and mitigation measures for anadromous salmonids and bull 
trout and take avoidance for any and all threatened and endangered 
species on the property.
    Comments and suggestions are invited from all interested parties to 
ensure that the full range of issues related to this proposed action 
are addressed and all significant issues identified. Comments or 
questions concerning this proposed action and the environmental review 
should be directed to the Fish and Wildlife Service or the National 
Marine Fisheries Service at the addresses provided above.
    The environmental review of this project will be conducted in 
accordance with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy 
Act of 1969, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), and implementing 
regulations (40 CFR 1500-1508), other appropriate Federal laws and 
regulations, and policies and procedures of the Services for compliance 
with those regulations. It is estimated that the draft environmental 
document will be available by January 1998.

    Dated: August 12, 1998.
Thomas Dwyer,
Acting Regional Director, Region 1, Portland, Oregon, Fish and Wildlife 
Service.
[FR Doc. 98-22267 Filed 8-19-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P