[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 186 (Tuesday, September 26, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Page 56107]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-15761]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 082106A]


Notice of Availability of a Final Record of Decision on the 
Issuance of Permits

AGENCIES: Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), Interior; National Marine 
Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION:  Notice of availability of Final Record of Decision and 
issuance of permits.

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SUMMARY:  The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine 
Fisheries Service (Services) announce the availability of a Final 
Record of Decision on the issuance of incidental take permits to the 
state of Washington under section 10 of the Endangered Species Act for 
the Washington Forest Practices Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP). The 
two incidental take permits (one from each of the Services) authorize 
incidental take of aquatic species (16 listed fish species, 54 unlisted 
fish species, and 7 unlisted amphibian species) from covered forest 
practices implemented under the HCP. These forest practices affect 
approximately 9 million acres of non-Federal and non-tribal lands in 
Washington State. The permits were issued on June 5, 2006, and will 
remain in effect for 50 years.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  For further information, or to 
receive copies of the documents, please contact Sally Butts, Project 
Manager, FWS, (360) 753-5832; or Laura Hamilton, Project Manager, NMFS, 
(360) 753-5820.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice advises the public that the 
Services gathered the information necessary to; (1) determine impacts 
and formulate alternatives for the EIS related to the issuance of 
incidental take permits to the state of Washington; and (2) develop and 
implement the HCP, which describes the measures to minimize and 
mitigate the effects of the incidental take of federally listed species 
to the maximum extent practicable. The notice of availability for the 
draft EIS, draft Forest Practices HCP, and draft Implementing Agreement 
was published in the Federal Register on February 11, 2005 (70 FR 
7245), and the notice of availability for the Final EIS, Final Forest 
Practices HCP, and Implementing Agreement was published in the Federal 
Register on January 27, 2006 (71 FR 4609). Copies of the Record of 
Decision, which was signed on June 5, 2006, are available from the 
Services. (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT for contact 
information).

    Dated: September 19, 2006.
David Wesley,
Deputy Regional Director, Fish and Wildlife Service, Region 1, 
Portland, Oregon

    Dated: September 19, 2006.
Angela Somma,
Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected Resources, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E6-15761 Filed 9-25-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-S and 3510-22-S