Notice of Intent To Conduct Public Scoping and Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement Related to an Amendment of the 1997 Washington Department of Natural Resources Habitat Conservation Plan for Forested State Trust Lands, 54515-54517 [E6-15238]
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Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 179 / Friday, September 15, 2006 / Notices
Written comments and suggestions from
the public and affected agencies should
address one or more of the following
four points:
(1) Evaluate whether the collection of
information is necessary for the proper
performance of the functions of the
agency, including whether the
information will have practical utility;
(2) Evaluate the accuracy of the
agencies estimate of the burden of the
collection of information, including the
validity of the methodology and
assumptions used;
(3) Enhance the quality, utility, and
clarity of the information to be
collected; and
(4) Minimize the burden of the
collection of information on those who
are to respond, including through the
use of appropriate automated,
electronic, mechanical, or other
technological collection techniques or
other forms of information technology,
e.g., permitting electronic submission of
responses.
jlentini on PROD1PC65 with NOTICES
Overview of This Information
Collection
(1) Type of Information Collection:
Revision of an existing information
collection.
(2) Title of the Form/Collection:
Petition for Alien Relative.
(3) Agency form number, if any, and
the applicable component of the
Department of Homeland Security
sponsoring the collection: Form I–130.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration
Services.
(4) Affected public who will be asked
or required to respond, as well as a brief
abstract: Primary: Individuals and
households. This information collection
is used by citizens and lawful
permanent residents of the United
States to petition on behalf of alien
relatives who wish to immigrate.
(5) An estimate of the total number of
respondents and the amount of time
estimated for an average respondent to
respond: 183,034 responses at 1.5 hours
per response.
(6) An estimate of the total public
burden (in hours) associated with the
collection: 274,551 annual burden
hours.
If you need a copy of the proposed
information collection instrument with
instructions, or additional information,
please visit the USCIS Web site at:
https://uscis.gov/graphics/formsfee/
forms/pra/index.htm.
If additional information is required
contact: USCIS, Regulatory Management
Division, 111 Massachusetts Avenue,
3rd Floor, Washington, DC 20529, (202)
272–8377.
VerDate Aug<31>2005
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Dated: September 11, 2006.
Stephen Tarragon,
Deputy Director, Regulatory Management
Division, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration
Services.
[FR Doc. E6–15301 Filed 9–14–06; 8:45 am]
54515
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
BILLING CODE 4410–10–P
DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND
URBAN DEVELOPMENT
Notice of Intent To Conduct Public
Scoping and Prepare an Environmental
Impact Statement Related to an
Amendment of the 1997 Washington
Department of Natural Resources
Habitat Conservation Plan for Forested
State Trust Lands
AGENCY:
[Docket No. FR–5045–N–37]
Federal Property Suitable as Facilities
To Assist the Homeless
Office of the Assistant
Secretary for Community Planning and
Development, HUD.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
Notice.
SUMMARY: This Notice identifies
unutilized, underutilized, excess, and
surplus Federal property reviewed by
HUD for suitability for possible use to
assist the homeless.
DATES:
Effective Date: September 15,
2006.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Kathy Ezzell, Department of Housing
and Urban Development, Room 7262,
451 Seventh Street SW., Washington,
DC 20410; telephone (202) 708–1234;
TTY number for the hearing- and
speech-impaired (202) 708–2565 (these
telephone numbers are not toll-free), or
call the toll-free Title V information line
at 1–800–927–7588.
In
accordance with the December 12, 1988
court order in National Coalition for the
Homeless v. Veterans Administration,
No. 88–2503–OG (D.D.C.), HUD
publishes a Notice, on a weekly basis,
identifying unutilized, underutilized,
excess and surplus Federal buildings
and real property that HUD has
reviewed for suitability for use to assist
the homeless. Today’s Notice is for the
purpose of announcing that no
additional properties have been
determined suitable for unsuitable this
week.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Dated: September 7, 2006.
Mark R. Johnston,
Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Special
Needs.
[FR Doc. 06–7599 Filed 9–14–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4210–67–M
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Fish and Wildlife Service,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice; scoping meetings;
request for comments.
SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service (Service) advises interested
parties of our intent to conduct public
scoping under the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to
gather information to prepare an
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS),
related to an anticipated application for
a permit amendment from the
Washington Department of Natural
Resources (WDNR) for its 1997 Habitat
Conservation Plan (HCP) for forested
State trust lands. The HCP excludes
those lands designated as urban or
leased for commercial, industrial, or
residential purposes and those lands
designated as agricultural (HCP p. I.2).
The application would be associated
with the proposed replacement of the
marbled murrelet (murrelet) interim
conservation strategy (ICS), which is
currently being implemented, with a
proposed long-term conservation
strategy (LTCS) for murrelets in
Southwest Washington and the Olympic
Peninsula.
DATES: Public scoping meetings are
scheduled as follows:
1. September 26, 2006, 6:30–8:30
p.m., Forks, WA.
2. September 28, 2006, 6:30–8:30
p.m., Mount Vernon, WA.
3. October 4, 2006, 6:30–8:30 p.m..
South Bend, WA.
4. October 5, 2006, 6:30–8:30 p.m.,
Lacey, WA.
Written comments should be received
on or before October 30, 2006.
ADDRESSES: The public scoping
meetings will be at:
1. Olympic Natural Resources Center,
1455 South Forks Avenue, Forks, WA
98331.
2. Cotton Tree Inn, 2300 Market
Street, Mount Vernon, WA 98273.
3. Willapa Harbor Community Center,
916 First Street, South Bend, WA 98586.
4. Lacey Community Center, 6729
Pacific Avenue SE., Lacey, WA 98509.
All comments concerning the
preparation of the draft EIS, proposed
draft HCP amendment, and NEPA
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54516
Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 179 / Friday, September 15, 2006 / Notices
jlentini on PROD1PC65 with NOTICES
process should be addressed to:
Washington Department of Natural
Resources, SEPA Center, Attn: Marbled
Murrelet Long-term Conservation
Strategy, c/o Mark Ostwald, U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service, P.O. Box 47015,
Olympia, WA 98504–7015; facsimile:
(360) 902–1789.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mark Ostwald; telephone (360) 753–
9564.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Statutory Authority
Section 9 of the Endangered Species
Act (ESA) (16 U.S.C. 1538) and
implementing regulations prohibit the
taking of animal species listed as
endangered or threatened. The term
‘‘take’’ is defined under the ESA (16
U.S.C. 1532(19)) as to harass, harm,
pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap,
capture, or collect, or to attempt to
engage in any such conduct. ‘‘Harm’’ is
defined by the Service to include
significant habitat modification or
degradation where it actually kills or
injures wildlife by significantly
impairing essential behavioral patterns,
including breeding, feeding, and
sheltering (50 CFR 17.3). ‘‘Harass’’ is
defined as actions that create the
likelihood of injury to listed species to
such an extent as to significantly disrupt
normal behavior patterns which
include, but are not limited to, breeding,
feeding, or sheltering (50 CFR 17.3).
Section 10 of the ESA and
implementing regulations specify
requirements for the issuance of
incidental take permits (ITPs) to nonFederal landowners for the take of
endangered and threatened species. Any
proposed take must be incidental to
otherwise lawful activities, not
appreciably reduce the likelihood of the
survival and recovery of the species in
the wild, and minimize and mitigate the
impacts of such take to the maximum
extent practicable. In addition, the
applicant must prepare a HCP
describing the impact that will likely
result from such taking, the strategy for
minimizing and mitigating the take, the
funding available to implement such
steps, alternatives to such taking, and
the reason such alternatives are not
being implemented.
NEPA (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) requires
that Federal agencies conduct an
environmental analysis of their
proposed actions to determine if the
actions may significantly affect the
human environment. Under NEPA, a
reasonable range of alternatives to
proposed projects is developed and
considered in the Service’s
environmental review. Alternatives
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14:51 Sep 14, 2006
Jkt 208001
considered for analysis in the EIS may
include: Variations in the scope of
covered activities; variations in the
location, amount, and type of
conservation; variations in permit
duration; a combination of these
elements; and no action. In addition, the
EIS will identify potentially significant
direct, indirect, and cumulative impacts
on biological resources, land use, air
quality, water quality, water resources,
and socioeconomics, as well as other
environmental issues that could occur
with the implementation of the
applicant’s proposed actions and
alternatives. For potentially significant
impacts, the EIS may identify
avoidance, minimization, or mitigation
measures to reduce these impacts,
where feasible, to a level below
significance. The WDNR also anticipates
submitting the LTCS for the murrelet
through the State Environmental Policy
Act review process.
Background
In 1996, the WDNR released its draft
HCP (dated March 1996) for forest
conservation and management activities
over 1.6 million acres of forested State
trust lands within the range of the
northern spotted owl (Strix occidentalis
caurina) in Washington State. A draft
EIS (dated March 1996) jointly
developed by the Service, National
Marine Fisheries Service, and the
WDNR was announced in the Federal
Register (61 FR 15297, April 5, 1996).
The draft EIS analyzed reasonable
management alternatives, including the
HCP. Through this process the WDNR
requested incidental take coverage for
the following listed species: Northern
spotted owl, marbled murrelet
(Brachyramphus mamoratus), Oregon
silverspot butterfly (Speyeria zerene
hippolyta), Aleutian Canada goose
(Branta canadensis leucopareia),
peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus),
grizzly bear (Ursos arctos), bald eagle
(Haliaeetus leucocephalus), gray wolf
(Canis lupus), and Columbian whitetailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus
leucurus), and several unlisted species
should they become listed under the
ESA in the future. A Notice of
Availability for the Final EIS (FEIS) was
published in the Federal Register (61
FR 56563, November 1, 1996). On
January 30, 1997, the Service issued the
Incidental Take Permit (PRT 812521). A
notice of decision and availability of
decision documents was announced in
the Federal Register on February 27,
1997 (62 FR 8970).
In the final HCP, the WDNR
committed to developing a LTCS for the
murrelet (HCP IV. 39). However, during
development of the HCP it was
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determined that there was not enough
scientific information to credibly
develop a LTCS for the murrelet on
WDNR lands. As such, the WDNR
developed an ICS (HCP IV. 39). The
principal intent of the ICS was to locate
occupied sites and not foreclose future
options for long-term conservation of
the murrelet on WDNR lands. The
WDNR has subsequently surveyed
approximately 97,000 acres for murrelet
occupancy that will help inform the
LTCS.
Briefly, the ICS includes: (1)
Identification and harvest deferral of
any part of a block of suitable habitat for
the murrelet; (2) completion of habitat
relationship studies to determine the
relative importance, based on murrelet
occupancy, of the various habitats; (3)
following completion of the habitat
relationship studies, the lowest quality
habitats would be available for timber
harvest, which were expected to contain
5 percent of the occupied sites (these
sites were in the poorest quality
habitats); (4) the higher quality habitat
acreages identified from the habitat
relationships study would be surveyed
for murrelet occupancy. Certain
unoccupied habitats would then become
available for timber harvest, and
occupied habitat and certain
unoccupied habitat would be protected;
and (5) development of the LTCS for
murrelets on WDNR lands, which is the
subject of this action.
For southwest Washington and the
Olympic Peninsula, the WDNR has
completed steps 1 through 4 above and
anticipates submitting a proposed LTCS
for these areas. For the remainder of the
State within the potential range of the
murrelet (i.e., central and north
Cascades), the WDNR continues to
conduct murrelet surveys and
anticipates completion of these surveys
within several years. Once surveys are
completed, the WDNR will develop
detailed LTCSs for those areas. Many of
the conservation approaches used in the
southwest Washington and the Olympic
Peninsula strategy may be relevant for
the central and north Cascades.
However, the present scoping process
will focus on the LTCS for Southwest
Washington and the Olympic Peninsula.
Currently, the WDNR has an existing
ITP for specific levels and types of
incidental take of murrelets. The current
ITP was principally structured to meet
the needs of the ICS, which the WDNR
now desires to replace with the LTCS.
It is expected that the LTCS may
necessitate a revised ITP because of new
areas for murrelet conservation and
potentially new levels of incidental take
not previously authorized.
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Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 179 / Friday, September 15, 2006 / Notices
jlentini on PROD1PC65 with NOTICES
To obtain the amended ITP, WDNR
must develop a LTCS that meets the ITP
issuance criteria established by the ESA
and Service regulations (50 CFR
17.22(b)(2), 17.22(b)(2)). If the permit
were to be amended, it would replace
the ICS. We anticipate that all other
terms and conditions of the 1997 permit
would remain in full force and effect
should the amendment be authorized.
The proposed LTCS may have levels
and areas of incidental take of murrelets
that were not previously analyzed by
the Service. Accordingly, the level of
take, general locations where incidental
take is likely to occur, the timing of
incidental take, minimization and
mitigation strategies, enhancement
activities, and research and monitoring
plans will be described in the LTCS and
the EIS.
In order to evaluate a permit
amendment, the WDNR must submit the
proposed LTCS to the Service for
analysis. The Service will ultimately
determine whether the LTCS satisfies
the ESA section 10 permit issuance
criteria and other applicable laws and/
or regulations. The LTCS must also be
consistent with the WDNR HCP. Should
the permit be amended to authorize the
LTCS, it may include assurances under
the Service’s ‘‘No Surprises’’
regulations.
meet the purpose and need; information
on murrelet ecology in Southwest
Washington and the Olympic Peninsula;
potential adaptive management and/or
monitoring provisions; funding issues;
existing environmental conditions in
the plan area; other plans or projects
that might be relevant to this proposed
project; minimization and mitigation
efforts; and baseline environmental
conditions. WDNR is also requesting
comments on murrelet ecology in the
central and north cascades for their
consideration, which will assist in
developing the LTCS in those areas.
The environmental review of this
project will be conducted in accordance
with the requirements of the NEPA of
1969, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et
seq.), Council on Environmental Quality
Regulations (40 CFR 1500–1508), other
applicable Federal laws and regulations,
and policies and procedures of the
Service. This notice is being furnished
in accordance with 40 CFR 1501.7 of
NEPA to obtain suggestions and
information from other agencies and the
public on the scope of issues and
alternatives to be addressed in the EIS.
The Service and WDNR intend to jointly
develop a single document that will
comply with all requirements of the
ESA, the State Environmental Policy
Act and NEPA.
Request for Comments
The primary purpose of the scoping
process is for the public to assist the
Service in developing the EIS by
identifying important issues and
alternatives related to the applicant’s
proposed action. The scoping
workshops will allocate time for
presentations by the Service and the
applicant, followed by informal
questions and discussions.
Written comments from interested
parties are encouraged to ensure that the
full range of issues related to the
anticipated permit amendment is
identified. All comments and materials
received, including names and
addresses, will become part of the
administrative record and may be
released to the public. Comments and
materials received will be available for
public inspection, by appointment,
during normal business hours at the
office listed in the ADDRESSES section of
this notice.
The Service requests that comments
be specific. In particular, we request
information regarding: Direct, indirect,
and cumulative impacts that
implementation of the proposed
amendment or other alternatives could
have on murrelets and other endangered
and threatened species, and their
habitats; other possible alternatives that
Reasonable Accommodation
Persons needing reasonable
accommodations in order to attend and
participate in public meetings should
contact Mark Ostwald (see the FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of
this notice). In order to allow sufficient
time to process requests, please call no
later than one week before the public
meeting. Information regarding this
proposed action is available in
alternative formats upon request.
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Jkt 208001
Dated: September 8, 2006.
David J. Wesley,
Deputy Regional Director, Fish and Wildlife
Service, Region 1, Portland, Oregon.
[FR Doc. E6–15238 Filed 9–14–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–55–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
United States Geological Survey
Notice of an Open Meeting of the
Advisory Committee on Water
Information (ACWI)
SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given of a
meeting of the ACWI. This meeting is to
discuss broad policy-related topics
relating to national water initiatives,
and the development and dissemination
of water information, through reports
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54517
from ACWI subgroups. The agenda will
include status of a proposal for a new
ACWI subgroup on Ground Water
Monitoring; a new proposal by the
Subcommittee on Hydrology, from the
Satellite Telemetry Interagency Working
Group; status of the National Monitoring
Network for U.S. Coastal Waters and
their Tributaries; and a presentation on
the new Wetland Mapping Standard
Workgroup of the Federal Geographic
Data Committee. The ACWI was
established under the authority of the
Office of Management and Budget
Memorandum M92–01 and the Federal
Advisory Committee Act. The purpose
of the ACWI is to provide a forum for
water information users and
professionals to advise the Federal
Government on activities and plans that
may improve the effectiveness of
meeting the Nation’s water information
needs. Member organizations help to
foster communications between the
Federal and non-Federal sectors on
sharing water information.
Membership, limited to 35
organizations, represents a wide range
of water resources interests and
functions. Representation on the ACWI
includes all levels of government,
academia, private industry, and
professional and technical societies. For
more information on the ACWI, its
membership, subgroups, meetings and
activities, please see the Web site at:
https://ACWI.gov.
DATES: The formal meeting will convene
at 9:30 a.m. on October 4, 2006, and will
adjourn at 4:15 p.m. on the same day.
ADDRESSES: The U.S. Geological Survey,
Dallas L. Peck Auditorium, 12201
Sunrise Valley Drive, Reston, Virginia.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms.
Toni J. Johnson, ACWI Executive
Secretary and Chief, Water Information
Coordination Program, U.S. Geological
Survey, 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, MS
417, Reston, VA 20192. Telephone: 703–
648–6810; Fax: 703–648–5644; e-mail:
tjohnson@usgs.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This
meeting is open to the public. Up to a
half hour will be set aside for public
comment. Persons wishing to make a
brief presentation (up to 5 minutes) are
asked to provide a written request with
a description of the general subject to
Ms. Johnson at the above address no
later than noon, September 27, 2006. It
is requested that 40 copies of a written
statement be submitted at the time of
the meeting for distribution to members
of the ACWI and placement in the
official file. Any member of the public
may submit written information and (or)
comments to Ms. Johnson for
distribution at the ACWI meeting.
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 179 (Friday, September 15, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54515-54517]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-15238]
=======================================================================
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
Notice of Intent To Conduct Public Scoping and Prepare an
Environmental Impact Statement Related to an Amendment of the 1997
Washington Department of Natural Resources Habitat Conservation Plan
for Forested State Trust Lands
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice; scoping meetings; request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) advises
interested parties of our intent to conduct public scoping under the
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to gather information to
prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), related to an
anticipated application for a permit amendment from the Washington
Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) for its 1997 Habitat
Conservation Plan (HCP) for forested State trust lands. The HCP
excludes those lands designated as urban or leased for commercial,
industrial, or residential purposes and those lands designated as
agricultural (HCP p. I.2). The application would be associated with the
proposed replacement of the marbled murrelet (murrelet) interim
conservation strategy (ICS), which is currently being implemented, with
a proposed long-term conservation strategy (LTCS) for murrelets in
Southwest Washington and the Olympic Peninsula.
DATES: Public scoping meetings are scheduled as follows:
1. September 26, 2006, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Forks, WA.
2. September 28, 2006, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Mount Vernon, WA.
3. October 4, 2006, 6:30-8:30 p.m.. South Bend, WA.
4. October 5, 2006, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Lacey, WA.
Written comments should be received on or before October 30, 2006.
ADDRESSES: The public scoping meetings will be at:
1. Olympic Natural Resources Center, 1455 South Forks Avenue,
Forks, WA 98331.
2. Cotton Tree Inn, 2300 Market Street, Mount Vernon, WA 98273.
3. Willapa Harbor Community Center, 916 First Street, South Bend,
WA 98586.
4. Lacey Community Center, 6729 Pacific Avenue SE., Lacey, WA
98509.
All comments concerning the preparation of the draft EIS, proposed
draft HCP amendment, and NEPA
[[Page 54516]]
process should be addressed to: Washington Department of Natural
Resources, SEPA Center, Attn: Marbled Murrelet Long-term Conservation
Strategy, c/o Mark Ostwald, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, P.O. Box
47015, Olympia, WA 98504-7015; facsimile: (360) 902-1789.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mark Ostwald; telephone (360) 753-
9564.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Statutory Authority
Section 9 of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) (16 U.S.C. 1538) and
implementing regulations prohibit the taking of animal species listed
as endangered or threatened. The term ``take'' is defined under the ESA
(16 U.S.C. 1532(19)) as to harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound,
kill, trap, capture, or collect, or to attempt to engage in any such
conduct. ``Harm'' is defined by the Service to include significant
habitat modification or degradation where it actually kills or injures
wildlife by significantly impairing essential behavioral patterns,
including breeding, feeding, and sheltering (50 CFR 17.3). ``Harass''
is defined as actions that create the likelihood of injury to listed
species to such an extent as to significantly disrupt normal behavior
patterns which include, but are not limited to, breeding, feeding, or
sheltering (50 CFR 17.3).
Section 10 of the ESA and implementing regulations specify
requirements for the issuance of incidental take permits (ITPs) to non-
Federal landowners for the take of endangered and threatened species.
Any proposed take must be incidental to otherwise lawful activities,
not appreciably reduce the likelihood of the survival and recovery of
the species in the wild, and minimize and mitigate the impacts of such
take to the maximum extent practicable. In addition, the applicant must
prepare a HCP describing the impact that will likely result from such
taking, the strategy for minimizing and mitigating the take, the
funding available to implement such steps, alternatives to such taking,
and the reason such alternatives are not being implemented.
NEPA (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) requires that Federal agencies
conduct an environmental analysis of their proposed actions to
determine if the actions may significantly affect the human
environment. Under NEPA, a reasonable range of alternatives to proposed
projects is developed and considered in the Service's environmental
review. Alternatives considered for analysis in the EIS may include:
Variations in the scope of covered activities; variations in the
location, amount, and type of conservation; variations in permit
duration; a combination of these elements; and no action. In addition,
the EIS will identify potentially significant direct, indirect, and
cumulative impacts on biological resources, land use, air quality,
water quality, water resources, and socioeconomics, as well as other
environmental issues that could occur with the implementation of the
applicant's proposed actions and alternatives. For potentially
significant impacts, the EIS may identify avoidance, minimization, or
mitigation measures to reduce these impacts, where feasible, to a level
below significance. The WDNR also anticipates submitting the LTCS for
the murrelet through the State Environmental Policy Act review process.
Background
In 1996, the WDNR released its draft HCP (dated March 1996) for
forest conservation and management activities over 1.6 million acres of
forested State trust lands within the range of the northern spotted owl
(Strix occidentalis caurina) in Washington State. A draft EIS (dated
March 1996) jointly developed by the Service, National Marine Fisheries
Service, and the WDNR was announced in the Federal Register (61 FR
15297, April 5, 1996). The draft EIS analyzed reasonable management
alternatives, including the HCP. Through this process the WDNR
requested incidental take coverage for the following listed species:
Northern spotted owl, marbled murrelet (Brachyramphus mamoratus),
Oregon silverspot butterfly (Speyeria zerene hippolyta), Aleutian
Canada goose (Branta canadensis leucopareia), peregrine falcon (Falco
peregrinus), grizzly bear (Ursos arctos), bald eagle (Haliaeetus
leucocephalus), gray wolf (Canis lupus), and Columbian white-tailed
deer (Odocoileus virginianus leucurus), and several unlisted species
should they become listed under the ESA in the future. A Notice of
Availability for the Final EIS (FEIS) was published in the Federal
Register (61 FR 56563, November 1, 1996). On January 30, 1997, the
Service issued the Incidental Take Permit (PRT 812521). A notice of
decision and availability of decision documents was announced in the
Federal Register on February 27, 1997 (62 FR 8970).
In the final HCP, the WDNR committed to developing a LTCS for the
murrelet (HCP IV. 39). However, during development of the HCP it was
determined that there was not enough scientific information to credibly
develop a LTCS for the murrelet on WDNR lands. As such, the WDNR
developed an ICS (HCP IV. 39). The principal intent of the ICS was to
locate occupied sites and not foreclose future options for long-term
conservation of the murrelet on WDNR lands. The WDNR has subsequently
surveyed approximately 97,000 acres for murrelet occupancy that will
help inform the LTCS.
Briefly, the ICS includes: (1) Identification and harvest deferral
of any part of a block of suitable habitat for the murrelet; (2)
completion of habitat relationship studies to determine the relative
importance, based on murrelet occupancy, of the various habitats; (3)
following completion of the habitat relationship studies, the lowest
quality habitats would be available for timber harvest, which were
expected to contain 5 percent of the occupied sites (these sites were
in the poorest quality habitats); (4) the higher quality habitat
acreages identified from the habitat relationships study would be
surveyed for murrelet occupancy. Certain unoccupied habitats would then
become available for timber harvest, and occupied habitat and certain
unoccupied habitat would be protected; and (5) development of the LTCS
for murrelets on WDNR lands, which is the subject of this action.
For southwest Washington and the Olympic Peninsula, the WDNR has
completed steps 1 through 4 above and anticipates submitting a proposed
LTCS for these areas. For the remainder of the State within the
potential range of the murrelet (i.e., central and north Cascades), the
WDNR continues to conduct murrelet surveys and anticipates completion
of these surveys within several years. Once surveys are completed, the
WDNR will develop detailed LTCSs for those areas. Many of the
conservation approaches used in the southwest Washington and the
Olympic Peninsula strategy may be relevant for the central and north
Cascades. However, the present scoping process will focus on the LTCS
for Southwest Washington and the Olympic Peninsula.
Currently, the WDNR has an existing ITP for specific levels and
types of incidental take of murrelets. The current ITP was principally
structured to meet the needs of the ICS, which the WDNR now desires to
replace with the LTCS. It is expected that the LTCS may necessitate a
revised ITP because of new areas for murrelet conservation and
potentially new levels of incidental take not previously authorized.
[[Page 54517]]
To obtain the amended ITP, WDNR must develop a LTCS that meets the
ITP issuance criteria established by the ESA and Service regulations
(50 CFR 17.22(b)(2), 17.22(b)(2)). If the permit were to be amended, it
would replace the ICS. We anticipate that all other terms and
conditions of the 1997 permit would remain in full force and effect
should the amendment be authorized.
The proposed LTCS may have levels and areas of incidental take of
murrelets that were not previously analyzed by the Service.
Accordingly, the level of take, general locations where incidental take
is likely to occur, the timing of incidental take, minimization and
mitigation strategies, enhancement activities, and research and
monitoring plans will be described in the LTCS and the EIS.
In order to evaluate a permit amendment, the WDNR must submit the
proposed LTCS to the Service for analysis. The Service will ultimately
determine whether the LTCS satisfies the ESA section 10 permit issuance
criteria and other applicable laws and/or regulations. The LTCS must
also be consistent with the WDNR HCP. Should the permit be amended to
authorize the LTCS, it may include assurances under the Service's ``No
Surprises'' regulations.
Request for Comments
The primary purpose of the scoping process is for the public to
assist the Service in developing the EIS by identifying important
issues and alternatives related to the applicant's proposed action. The
scoping workshops will allocate time for presentations by the Service
and the applicant, followed by informal questions and discussions.
Written comments from interested parties are encouraged to ensure
that the full range of issues related to the anticipated permit
amendment is identified. All comments and materials received, including
names and addresses, will become part of the administrative record and
may be released to the public. Comments and materials received will be
available for public inspection, by appointment, during normal business
hours at the office listed in the ADDRESSES section of this notice.
The Service requests that comments be specific. In particular, we
request information regarding: Direct, indirect, and cumulative impacts
that implementation of the proposed amendment or other alternatives
could have on murrelets and other endangered and threatened species,
and their habitats; other possible alternatives that meet the purpose
and need; information on murrelet ecology in Southwest Washington and
the Olympic Peninsula; potential adaptive management and/or monitoring
provisions; funding issues; existing environmental conditions in the
plan area; other plans or projects that might be relevant to this
proposed project; minimization and mitigation efforts; and baseline
environmental conditions. WDNR is also requesting comments on murrelet
ecology in the central and north cascades for their consideration,
which will assist in developing the LTCS in those areas.
The environmental review of this project will be conducted in
accordance with the requirements of the NEPA of 1969, as amended (42
U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), Council on Environmental Quality Regulations (40
CFR 1500-1508), other applicable Federal laws and regulations, and
policies and procedures of the Service. This notice is being furnished
in accordance with 40 CFR 1501.7 of NEPA to obtain suggestions and
information from other agencies and the public on the scope of issues
and alternatives to be addressed in the EIS. The Service and WDNR
intend to jointly develop a single document that will comply with all
requirements of the ESA, the State Environmental Policy Act and NEPA.
Reasonable Accommodation
Persons needing reasonable accommodations in order to attend and
participate in public meetings should contact Mark Ostwald (see the FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this notice). In order to allow
sufficient time to process requests, please call no later than one week
before the public meeting. Information regarding this proposed action
is available in alternative formats upon request.
Dated: September 8, 2006.
David J. Wesley,
Deputy Regional Director, Fish and Wildlife Service, Region 1,
Portland, Oregon.
[FR Doc. E6-15238 Filed 9-14-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P
