[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 15 (Thursday, January 23, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3516-3517]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-1601]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Availability of an Environmental Assessment and Receipt of an
Application for a Permit To Allow Incidental Take of Threatened and
Endangered Species by Weyerhaeuser Company on Portions of its Lands in
Lane, Linn, Benton, and Douglas Counties, Oregon
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
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SUMMARY: The Weyerhaeuser Company has applied to the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service
(collectively, the Services) for an incidental take permit pursuant to
section 10(a)(1)(B) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended
(Act). They have also requested approval of an unlisted species
agreement covering other species which may be found in the planning
area. The application has been assigned U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
permit number PRT-823550 and National Marine Fisheries Service permit
number P626. The Services also announce the availability of an
Environmental Assessment (Assessment) for the proposed issuance of the
incidental take permit. All comments received will become part of the
public record and may be released. This notice is provided pursuant to
section 10(c) of the Act and National Environmental Policy Act
regulations (40 CFR 1506.6).
DATES: Written comments on the permit application, Assessment, and
associated documents (see ADDRESSES below) should be received 60 days
from the date of this publication.
ADDRESSES: Comments regarding the application, Assessment, and
associated documents (a Habitat Conservation Plan [Plan] and
Implementing Agreement) or requests for those documents, should be
addressed to Curt Smitch, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Pacific
Northwest Habitat Conservation Plan Program, 3773 Martin Way East,
Building C, Suite 101, Olympia, Washington 98501. Please refer to
permit number PRT-823550 when submitting comments. Individuals seeking
copies of the application package should immediately contact the above
office.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:Mr. David J. Hirsh, U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, or Mr. Steve Landino, National Marine Fisheries
Service, at the above address; telephone (360) 534-9330.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under section 9 of the Act and its
implementing regulations, ``taking'' of threatened and endangered
species is prohibited. However, the Services, under limited
circumstances, may issue permits to take threatened or endangered
wildlife species if such taking is incidental to, and not the purpose
of, otherwise lawful activities. Regulations governing permits for
threatened and endangered species are codified in 50 CFR 17.22 and
17.32 and 222.2.
The Weyerhaeuser Company has addressed, in its Plan, species
conservation and ecosystem management on approximately 400,000 acres of
land in the Willamette Valley and foothills of the Central Cascade
Mountains and Coast Ranges of Oregon. The subject ownership occurs in
two largely contiguous blocks with some portions in a ``checkerboard''
pattern with other Federal and non-Federal land. The proposed Plan
would be implemented for 40 years with the Services retaining the
option to extend the term for up to four additional ten-year periods.
The proposed Plan addresses, in three tiers, the species for which
the Weyerhaeuser Company seeks coverage under section 10 of the Act.
The first tier includes certain species currently listed or proposed
for listing; those species are named below. The second tier includes
presently unlisted species that are associated with habitats that are
addressed through various measures in the proposed Plan. The third tier
includes presently unlisted species that are associated with older,
upland, interior forests. Tier 1 and 2 species would be covered upon
approval of the Plan by the Services. Tier 3 species could become
covered if the Weyerhaeuser Company can show that the proposed Plan
benefits the species and those benefits have led to presence in the
Plan area.
The Weyerhaeuser Company is requesting a permit for the incidental
take of the northern spotted owl (Strix occidentalis caurina) which
would occur as a result of timber harvest and related activities within
the individual portions of the owl sites present on the subject
property. There are currently more than 160 owl sites that impact
Weyerhaeuser Company operations within the 400,000-acre planning area.
The Weyerhaeuser Company plans to avoid the take of the marbled
murrelet (Brachyramphus marmoratus marmoratus), but has included
murrelets in the permit application in case some unanticipated
incidental take occurs. The Weyerhaeuser Company has also included the
Umpqua cutthroat trout (Oncorhyncus clarki clarki), American peregrine
falcon (Falco peregrinus), Columbian whitetailed deer (Odocoileus
virginianus leucurus), bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), Aleutian
Canada goose (Branta canadensis leucopareia), and Oregon chub
(Oregonichthys crameri) in the permit application to cover
circumstances where these species may occur on the subject property and
could at some point be subject to take.
The Plan is designed to complement measures being implemented on
Federal lands under the Northwest Forest Plan, and includes various
forms of minimization and mitigation measures which are integral parts
of the Plan. It includes a schedule for early successional forest types
to be provided across the landscape during the entire course of plan
implementation. Mitigation for other presently listed species and
species proposed for listing include specific management prescriptions
for those species. For example, the strategy for the northern spotted
owl was developed to facilitate connectivity between the Federal Late
Successional Reserves in the Oregon Cascades and Coast Ranges. In
addition to the specific measures for listed and proposed species, the
Plan proposes a comprehensive riparian management strategy, the
protection of special biotope areas such as forested wetlands, mineral
springs, talus slopes, and caves (among others), supplemental habitat
protection for selected species of concern such as pond habitat for the
northwestern pond turtle, and reproductive habitat around known nest
sites for golden eagles and osprey.
Minimum interim prescriptions are provided for riparian and wetland
areas, and prescription development through Watershed Analysis
processes according to Washington State regulations will also be
completed. Specific prescriptions will also be implemented for the
management of areas, such as roads and steep slopes, that are
vulnerable to degrading events.
The Assessment considers four alternatives, including the proposed
Plan and the no-action alternatives. Under Alternative A, the no-action
alternative, the Weyerhaeuser Company would avoid the take of any and
all Federally listed species and no permit would be issued. Under
Alternative C, conservation of the northern spotted owl and marbled
murrelet would be implemented to minimize and mitigate
[[Page 3517]]
for the effects of authorized take of only those two species. Under
Alternative D, the applicant would manage the ownership based on
standards and guidelines for Matrix land under the Northwest Forest
Plan. Alternative B, the Proposed Habitat Conservation Plan
Alternative, would provide minimizing and mitigating measures for
proposed take of the listed and currently proposed species mentioned
above. In addition, protection for unlisted species would be provided
through the retention of habitat structures from harvested stands into
the subsequent rotation, buffering of habitat biotopes, supplemental
habitat management, and through overall landscape level management
goals.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1531-1544, and 4201-4245.
Dated: January 16, 1997.
Thomas J. Dwyer,
Acting Regional Director, Region 1, Portland, Oregon.
[FR Doc. 97-1601 Filed 1-22-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P