[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 66 (Thursday, April 8, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18268-18269]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-07189]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RTID 0648-XA995]


Endangered and Threatened Species; Take of Anadromous Fish

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Notice, extension of comment period.

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SUMMARY: NMFS is extending the public comment period for the Notice of 
Intent (NoI) to prepare the Western Oregon State Forests Habitat 
Conservation Plan (WOSF HCP) Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). We, 
NMFS, intend to prepare an EIS, in accordance with the requirements of 
the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), to analyze the potential 
impacts on the human (biological, physical, social, and economic) 
environment caused by the WOSF HCP and a range of reasonable 
alternatives. The primary purpose of the comment period is to engage 
Federal, Tribal, State, and local governments and the public in the 
identification of issues and concerns, potential impacts, and 
reasonable alternatives to the proposed action that meet the purpose 
and need for consideration in the draft EIS.

DATES: The original NoI issued on March 8, 2021 (86 FR 13337), provided 
for a comment period to end on Wednesday, April 7, 2021. The comment 
period is now extended 14 days and will close Wednesday, April 21, 
2021. Comments must be received at the appropriate address (see 
ADDRESSES) no later than 11:59 p.m. Eastern time on April 21, 2021. 
Comments received after this date may not be accepted. Comments 
submitted prior to this announcement do not need to be resubmitted as a 
result of the extension of the comment period.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on this document, identified by 
NOAA-NMFS-2021-0019, by Electronic Submission: Submit all electronic 
public comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to https://www.regulations.gov and enter NOAA-NMFS-2021-0019 in the Search box. 
Click on the ``Comment'' icon, complete the required fields, and enter 
or attach your comments.
    Instructions: Comments sent by any other method, to any other 
address or individual, or received after the end of the comment period, 
may not be considered by NMFS. All comments received are a part of the 
public record and will generally be posted for public viewing on 
www.regulations.gov without change. All personal identifying 
information (e.g., name, address, etc.), confidential business 
information, or otherwise sensitive information submitted voluntarily 
by the sender will be publicly accessible. NMFS will accept anonymous 
comments (enter ``N/A'' in the required fields if you wish to remain 
anonymous).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michelle McMullin, NMFS, 541-957-3378, 
[email protected]. Additional information can be found on the 
project website: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/action/notice-intent-prepare-environmental-impact-statement-western-oregon-state-forest-habitat. In addition to this Federal Register notice, NMFS will post a 
notice of the extension on its website and will send an email to 
interested parties.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The WOSF HCP is being prepared in support of 
a request for Endangered Species Act (ESA) incidental take permits 
(ITPs) authorizing incidental take of covered species by covered 
activities. The applicant for the ITPs is the Oregon Department of 
Forestry (ODF). Under the proposed action, NMFS and USFWS would approve 
the WOSF HCP and issue ITPs with 70-year permit terms to the ODF for 
incidental take of covered species from covered activities in the plan 
area.
    The primary purpose of the scoping process is for the public to 
assist NMFS in developing the EIS. NMFS requests that the comments be 
specific. In particular, we request information regarding: Any science 
that is relevant and not yet incorporated, any interpretation of 
science that is different than what is presented; significant issues; 
identification of impacts that are not fully off-set; review and input 
regarding monitoring; possible alternatives that meet the purpose and 
need; effects or impacts to the human environment from the proposed 
action or alternatives; and potential terms and conditions that may 
minimize adverse effects, including time or area restrictions or both 
to reduce environmental impacts.
    We are using this process to seek alternatives, which may include, 
but are not limited to variation in the length of the permit term; 
adding or removing some of the covered species; the level of take 
allowed; the level, location, or type of minimization, mitigation, or 
monitoring provided under the HCP; the scope of covered activities; the 
location, amount or type of conservation, or similar aspects of the 
permit conditions. Further information is contained in the NoI (86 FR 
13337).

    Authority: 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.; 40 CFR 1500-1508; and 
Companion Manual for NOAA Administrative Order 216-6A.


[[Page 18269]]


    Dated: April 2, 2021.
Angela Somma,
Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected Resources, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-07189 Filed 4-6-21; 8:45 am]
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