[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 243 (Friday, December 18, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70155-70156]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-33034]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service


Availability of a Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement on a Proposed Modification of Plum Creek Timber Company's 
Incidental Take Permit for Threatened and Endangered Species on 
Portions of its Lands in the Central Cascades, King and Kittitas 
Counties, Washington

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice

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

SUMMARY: This notice advises the public that Plum Creek Timber Company 
(Permittee) has requested modification of their incidental take permit 
(PRT-808398) to accommodate the new land base expected as a result of a 
potential land exchange with the U.S. Forest Service. The Fish and 
Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service (together 
Services) prepared a Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement 
(Supplement). The Final Environmental Impact Statement (Statement) 
associated with the original Habitat Conservation Plan (Plan) is not 
being re-opened or re-analyzed, and the decisions based on the original 
Statement are not being reconsidered. The Services herein announce the 
availability of the Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement 
for the proposed modification pursuant to the National Environmental 
Policy Act regulations (40 CFR 1506.6).

DATES: Written comments on the Supplement should be received on or 
before February 8, 1999. This comment period was established for a 
longer period of time than required by regulation and policy to 
compensate for days lost for public review during the December 
holidays.

ADDRESSES: Comments regarding the Supplement, or requests for that 
document, should be addressed to William Vogel, Fish and Wildlife 
Service, Pacific Northwest Plan Program, 510 Desmond Drive S.E., Suite 
102, Lacey, Washington 98503-1273; (360) 753-9440; or Bob Turner, Plan 
Program Manager, National Marine Fisheries Service, 510 Desmond Drive 
S.E., Suite 103, Lacey, Washington 98503-1273; (360) 753-6054.

[[Page 70156]]

    Individuals wishing copies of the Supplement for review should 
immediately contact the above office at (360) 753-9440 or contact 
Michael Collins, Project Leader, Plum Creek Timber Company, 999 Third 
Avenue, Suite 2300, Seattle, Washington 98104; or call (206) 467-3639. 
Copies of the Supplement and supporting documents are also available at 
the following libraries:
Wenatchee Public Library, Attention: Sandy Purcell, 310 Douglas 
Street, Wenatchee, Washington 98801
University of Washington Library, Attention: Carolyn Aamot, 
Government Publications Department, 170 Suzzallo Library, Seattle, 
Washington 98195-2900
Seattle Public Library, Attention: Ms. Jeanette Voiland, Government 
Publications Department, 1000 Fourth Avenue, Seattle, Washington 
98104
Evergreen State College, Attention: Lee Lyttle, Library Campus 
Parkway--L23100H, Olympia, Washington 98505
Central Washington University, Attention: Dr. Patrick McLaughlin, 
Library Collection Development, Ellensburg, Washington 98926
King County Library System, Attention: Cheryl Standley, Documents 
Department, 1111 110th Avenue Northeast, Bellevue, Washington 98004

    Questions concerning this proposed action and comments regarding 
the Supplement should be forwarded to the Fish and Wildlife Service or 
National Marine Fisheries Service at the address or telephone number 
provided above. Formal public scoping was not conducted, consistent 
with 40 CFR 1502.9(c)(4). However, Service staff held public meetings 
in conjunction with the Forest Service on May 13, 14, 20, and 21, 1998, 
to answer questions and receive comments and concerns.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: William Vogel, Fish and Wildlife 
Service, or Dennis Carlson, National Marine Fisheries Service. Both are 
located at the Pacific Northwest Plan Program, at the addresses and 
telephone numbers listed above.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Plum Creek Plan for the Cascade region 
was accepted and the Incidental Take Permit was originally issued on 
June 27, 1996, for a 170,600-acre Project Area located within a 
418,700-acre Planning Area. The Planning Area is located within east 
King County and west Kittitas County, Washington, and is bisected by 
Interstate-90. The Planning Area includes not only Plum Creek lands, 
but National Forest lands and lands of other ownerships.
    The Permit allows Plum Creek to incidentally take threatened and 
endangered fish and wildlife while requiring implementation of a 
conservation plan with a habitat-based, prescriptive-management 
strategy designed to minimize and mitigate such incidental take. The 
Plan approved in 1996 contemplated that Plum Creek lands managed under 
the Plan and Permit would likely change as a result of future land 
exchanges with the federal government. Consequently, the Plan and 
associated Implementation Agreement provide procedures and criteria for 
modification of the Plan to accommodate the exchange of lands. The Plan 
describes two scenarios for such land exchanges whereby ``the 
biological integrity of the Plan would be either maintained or 
improved.''
    In October of 1998, H.R. 4328 authorized and directed the 
Interstate-90 land exchange. The potential land exchange would result 
in a transfer to the U.S. Forest Service of up to 53,400 acres of the 
170,600-acre Project Area previously covered by Plum Creek's Permit and 
Plan, and the transfer of up to 10,800 acres of National Forest lands 
within the 418,700-acre Planning Area to Plum Creek. The authorized 
land exchange is a combination of the two scenarios determined to be 
``beneficial'' in the original Plan.
    The Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement analyzes Plum 
Creek's proposal in order to determine the environmental impact 
(beneficial or adverse) that would result from implementation of the 
Plan modification, as compared to the original Federal Action (approval 
and implementation of the original Plan and issuance of an Incidental 
Take Permit).
    The Environmental Impact Statement considers three alternatives, 
including the Proposed Action and the No-action Alternatives. Under the 
No-action Alternative, the Permittee would continue to implement the 
existing Plan on the current land base. This alternative includes 
specific mitigation for wildlife whether or not those species are 
listed under the Endangered Species Act (Act). The Proposed Action 
would allow the modification of the Plan to accommodate the new land 
base and would therefore apply the Plan standards to the newly acquired 
Plum Creek lands. The Northwest Forest Plan would apply to newly 
acquired National Forest lands. The Partial-Modification Alternative 
would allow the transfer of lands from Plum Creek to the U.S. Forest 
Service, but would not add the newly acquired Plum Creek lands to the 
Plan. Instead, take prohibitions under section 9 of the Endangered 
Species Act would apply with respect to listed species, but no 
conservation would be required for other wildlife and special habitats.

    Authority: 16 USC 1361-1407, 1531-1544, and 4201-4245.

    Dated: December 8, 1998.
Thomas Dwyer,
Acting Regional Director, Region 1, Portland, Oregon.
[FR Doc. 98-33034 Filed 12-17-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P