Notice of Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Thurston County Habitat Conservation Plan in Thurston County, Washington, 65861-65866 [2020-22963]

Agencies

• Fish and Wildlife Service
• DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 201 (Friday, October 16, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65861-65866]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-22963]



[[Page 65861]]

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

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R1-ES-2020-0101; FXES11140100000-212-FF01E0000]


Notice of Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement for the Thurston County Habitat Conservation Plan in Thurston 
County, Washington

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement; 
notice of virtual public scoping meetings; request for comments.

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

SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), provide this 
notice to open a public scoping period and announce public scoping 
meetings in accordance with requirements of the National Environmental 
Policy Act, and its implementing regulations. We intend to prepare an 
environmental impact statement (EIS) to evaluate the impacts on the 
human environment related to an application from Thurston County, 
Washington (applicant), for an incidental take permit under the 
Endangered Species Act. The Service previously published a similar 
notice of intent to prepare an EIS on March 20, 2013. Thurston County 
used the public comments received along with new information to further 
develop the draft Thurston County Habitat Conservation Plan. This 
notice opens a new public scoping period based on a new application 
received from Thurston County on July 30, 2020. Comments received in 
writing during the 2013 public comment period were retained, and do not 
need be provided again during this public comment period to be 
considered during this review.

DATES: Submitting Comments: We will accept comments received or 
postmarked on or before November 16, 2020. Comments submitted online at 
https://www.regulations.gov/ (see ADDRESSES) must be received by 11:59 
p.m. Eastern Time on November 16, 2020.
    Public Meetings: The Service will hold two public scoping meetings 
during the scoping period. To help protect the public and limit the 
spread of the COVID-19 virus, the public meetings will be held 
virtually at the following times:
     October 26, 2020, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
     October 28, 2020, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

ADDRESSES: 
    Submitting Comments: You may submit comments by one of the 
following methods:
     Internet: https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the 
instructions for submitting comments on Docket No. FWS-R1-ES-2020-0101.
     U.S. mail: Public Comments Processing; Attn: Docket No. 
FWS-R1-ES-2020-0101; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Headquarters, MS: 
PRB/3W; 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041-3803.
    For additional information about submitting comments, see Request 
for Public Comments and Public Availability of Comments under 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
    Public Meetings: A link and access instructions to the virtual 
scoping meetings will be posted to https://www.fws.gov/wafwo/ at least 
one week prior to the public meeting dates.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Marty Acker, by telephone at 360-753-
9073, or by email at [email protected]. Hearing or speech impaired 
individuals may call the Federal Relay Service at 800-877-8339 for TTY 
service.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 
(Service), provide this notice to prepare an environmental impact 
statement and open a public scoping period and announce public scoping 
meetings in accordance with requirements of the National Environmental 
Policy Act (NEPA; 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and its implementing 
regulations. We intend to prepare an environmental impact statement 
(EIS) to evaluate the impacts on the human environment related to an 
application from Thurston County, Washington (applicant), for an 
incidental take permit (ITP) under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, 
as amended (ESA; 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).
    The Service previously published a similar notice of intent to 
prepare an EIS on March 20, 2013 (78 FR 17224). Thurston County used 
the public comments received, along with new information, to further 
develop the Thurston HCP. This notice opens a new public scoping period 
based on a new application received from Thurston County on July 30, 
2020. The primary purpose of the scoping process is for the public and 
other parties to assist in developing the DEIS by identifying important 
issues and alternatives that should be considered. This new scoping 
notice was prepared pursuant to the updated regulations implementing 
NEPA, issued by the Council on Environmental Quality on July 16, 2020 
(85 FR 43304).

Purpose and Need for the Proposed Action

    In accordance with section 10(a)(2)(A) of the ESA, Thurston County 
has submitted the draft Thurston County Habitat Conservation Plan 
(Thurston HCP) in support of an ITP application for the threatened Yelm 
pocket gopher (Thomomys mazama yelmensis), Olympia pocket gopher (T. 
mazama pugetensis), Tenino pocket gopher (T. mazama tumuli), and Oregon 
spotted frog (Rana pretiosa); the endangered Taylor's checkerspot 
butterfly (Euphydryas editha taylori); and the Oregon vesper sparrow 
(Pooecetes gramineus affinis), which is under review to determine if 
Federal listing under the ESA is warranted. The requested permit would 
authorize incidental take of covered species caused by the impacts of 
county-permitted development activities, as well as construction and 
maintenance of county-owned or county-managed infrastructure for a 
period of 30 years, and includes minimization and mitigation measures 
to offset the impacts of the taking on covered species.
    To meet our requirements under NEPA, we intend to prepare a draft 
environmental impact statement (DEIS) and, later, a final environmental 
impact statement (FEIS), to evaluate the effects on the human 
environment of issuing the requested permit and Thurston County's 
implementation of the Thurston HCP.
    The County's goals include providing long-term certainty for growth 
and economic development in Thurston County, supporting listed and rare 
species, protecting and maintaining working lands and agriculture, and 
improving local control over covered activities. The Service has taken 
these goals into account in establishing our purpose and need for the 
proposed action, which are (1) to process the applicant's request for 
an ITP, the issuance of which is necessary to meet the County's 
development and biological goals; and (2) to either grant, grant with 
conditions, or deny the ITP request in compliance with the Service's 
authority under applicable law including, without limitation, section 
10(a) of the ESA and applicable ESA implementing regulations.

Preliminary Proposed Action and Alternatives

    Consistent with 40 CFR 1501.9(d)(2), the preliminary description of 
the proposed action is issuance of an ITP authorizing incidental take 
of HCP covered species in association with

[[Page 65862]]

covered activities and HCP implementation; the ITP will only be issued 
if ESA section 10(a) permit issuance criteria and all other legal 
requirements related to permit issuance are met. We will prepare a FEIS 
prior to making a decision on whether to issue an ITP.
    The DEIS will include a reasonable range of alternatives, including 
a No Action Alternative, and will likely analyze variations in 
mitigation approaches and variations in conservation implementation and 
effectiveness monitoring. One alternative will include providing all 
mitigation on new reserves, likely providing greater benefits to 
covered species but with potentially higher implementation costs, and 
potentially less participation by farmers who may be willing to protect 
species and habitat through conservation easements. Additionally, a No 
Action Alternative will be included. Under the No Action Alternative, 
the Service would not issue an ITP, and Thurston County and its 
permittees would not obtain ESA take coverage for take of listed 
species from construction, maintenance, and other activities.

Background

Endangered Species Act

    Section 9 of the ESA prohibits ``take'' of fish and wildlife 
species listed as endangered under section 4 (16 U.S.C. 1538 and 16 
U.S.C. 1533, respectively). The ESA implementing regulations extend, 
under certain circumstances, the prohibition of take to threatened 
species (50 CFR 17.31). Under section 3 of the ESA, the term ``take'' 
means to ``harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, 
capture, or collect, or attempt to engage in any such conduct'' (16 
U.S.C. 1532(19)). The term ``harm'' is defined by regulation as ``an 
act which actually kills or injures wildlife.'' Such act may include 
significant habitat modification or degradation where it actually kills 
or injures wildlife by significantly impairing essential behavioral 
patterns, including breeding, feeding, or sheltering'' (50 CFR 17.3). 
The term ``harass'' is defined in the regulations as ``an intentional 
or negligent act or omission which creates the likelihood of injury to 
wildlife by annoying it to such an extent as to significantly disrupt 
normal behavioral patterns which include, but are not limited to, 
breeding, feeding, or sheltering'' (50 CFR 17.3).
    Under section 10(a) of the ESA, the Service may issue permits to 
authorize incidental take of listed fish and wildlife species. 
``Incidental take'' is defined by the ESA as take that is incidental 
to, and not the purpose of, carrying out an otherwise lawful activity. 
Section 10(a)(1)(B) of the ESA contains provisions for issuing ITPs to 
non-Federal entities for the take of endangered and threatened species, 
provided the following criteria are met:
    1. The taking will be incidental;
    2. The applicant will, to the maximum extent practicable, minimize 
and mitigate the impact of such taking;
    3. The applicant will ensure that adequate funding for the plan 
will be provided;
    4. The taking will not appreciably reduce the likelihood of the 
survival and recovery of the species in the wild; and
    5. The applicant will carry out any other measures that the Service 
may require as being necessary or appropriate for the purposes of the 
HCP.

Thurston County Habitat Conservation Plan

    Thurston County intends to implement the Thurston HCP to cover a 
variety of activities for which the County issues permits or approvals, 
or that it otherwise carries out through the course of its normal 
business throughout the County. Thurston County issues permits or 
approvals for residential development, construction of added accessory 
structures, septic repair or extension and home-heating oil tank 
removal, commercial and industrial development, and public facility 
construction. Thurston County carries out construction, transportation 
and right-of-way maintenance; landfill and solid waste management; 
water resources management; and county parks, trails, and land 
management. The Thurston HCP includes measures to minimize and mitigate 
impacts of the taking on covered species. Thurston County requests a 
30-year ITP.
Covered Activities
    The applicant is seeking ITP coverage for activities that it 
conducts, permits, or otherwise authorizes. The proposed covered 
activities include:
     Planning and permitting of residential and agricultural 
structures and facilities on existing legal lots;
     Permits for private and new subdivision road construction 
and maintenance;
     Permits for work in right-of-ways;
     Construction and maintenance of county roads, bridges, and 
right-of-ways;
     Construction and maintenance of county-owned buildings and 
other administrative facilities;
     Construction and maintenance of county parks, including 
roads, trails, vegetation management, structures, recreational 
activities, and scientific research;
     Construction and operation of solid waste facilities;
     Permitting and monitoring of septic systems and 
decommissioning of home oil tanks;
     Maintenance and monitoring of stormwater, water and 
wastewater resources and associated facilities;
     Construction, installation, extension, and maintenance of 
surface-water intake facilities, pumping plants, wells, well houses, 
water treatment facilities, and pipelines;
     Emergency response, cleanup, and restoration associated 
with natural disasters; and
     Habitat restoration activities on county-owned or 
controlled land, agricultural activities in habitat areas, and all 
habitat monitoring, maintenance, and enhancement activities associated 
with implementation of the HCP.
Covered Species
    The species proposed for coverage under the Thurston HCP and ITP 
include three subspecies of the Mazama pocket gopher (the Yelm pocket 
gopher, Olympia pocket gopher, and the Tenino pocket gopher), Oregon 
spotted frog, Taylor's checkerspot butterfly, and the Oregon vesper 
sparrow.
    The draft Thurston HCP includes an analysis of impacts to covered 
species and proposes limits on impacts resulting from covered 
activities. As it is not practical to express the anticipated take (or 
to monitor take-related impacts) in terms of number of individuals, the 
Thurston HCP uses habitat surrogates, measured as habitat area or as 
``functional-acre'' values, to quantify impacts to each covered species 
and related conservation outcomes. The functional-acre approach 
integrates currently available information on covered species' habitat 
distribution, habitat condition, and landscape position to provide 
site-specific measures of habitat value. This approach provides greater 
weighting to both impacts and mitigation occurring in areas that are a 
priority for conservation of the covered species.
    Each of the covered species is known to occur in Thurston County. 
The Thurston HCP would not require surveys for occupancy prior to the 
applicant's conducting covered activities. Therefore, the Thurston HCP 
includes detailed assumptions about habitat criteria and locations for 
each covered species. Measures to minimize and mitigate impacts on 
covered species are described for each type of activity to

[[Page 65863]]

be covered by the HCP, and these measures would be systematically 
implemented and monitored for success. Impacts would be offset by 
permanent mitigation that is legally protected such as through 
conservation easements, and permanently funded through endowments and 
other funding mechanisms. Minimization and mitigation measures are 
subject to adaptive management to ensure their effectiveness, and to 
ensure achievement of the Thurston HCP's biological goals and 
objectives.
    To mitigate unavoidable impacts to covered species, under the 
Thurston HCP's conservation program Thurston County proposes to 
permanently protect and manage covered species-occupied habitat by 
establishing habitat reserves, acquiring working lands conservation 
easements, and permanently enhancing habitat quality on existing 
reserves for each covered species. The addition of new reserves and 
working land conservation easements, as well as enhancements to 
existing reserves, would occur incrementally during HCP implementation. 
Mitigation for the Thurston HCP would be secured and managed to ensure 
that take is fully mitigated before a covered activity is initiated. 
The Thurston HCP includes funding assurances, monitoring, adaptive 
management, and changed circumstance provisions to help ensure 
conservation outcomes for the covered species. Annual reports would 
confirm the amount, type, and location of impacts and mitigation, as 
well as the status of monitoring, adaptive management, changed 
circumstances, and funding.
Yelm Pocket Gopher, Olympia Pocket Gopher, and Tenino Pocket Gopher
    The Yelm pocket gopher, Olympia pocket gopher, and Tenino pocket 
gopher are the three listed subspecies of the Mazama pocket gopher 
occurring in Thurston County. The Service listed these three subspecies 
as threatened under the ESA on May 9, 2013 (79 FR 19760), and 
designated critical habitat for each of these subspecies on the same 
date (79 FR 19712).
    Individuals of each subspecies build and maintain underground 
burrows in excessively well-drained soils where they forage, shelter, 
rear young, and maintain individual territories. The species relies on 
management-dependent grasslands and prairies, which have declined due 
to development, land use changes, and cessation of historical 
disturbance processes (e.g., fire). Habitat loss and fragmentation are 
primary threats to the species. Exposure to other threats, such as 
predation by domestic and feral animals, and rodenticide are heightened 
in the developed landscape.
    The three subspecies of the Mazama pocket gopher in Thurston County 
are associated with glacial outwash prairies in western Washington, an 
ecosystem of conservation concern. Native prairies and grasslands have 
been severely reduced throughout Thurston County due to conversion of 
habitat to residential and commercial development and agriculture, 
rendering soils unsuitable for burrowing. Due to their solitary and 
territorial nature, many sites occupied by subspecies of the Mazama 
pocket gopher may contain a small number of individuals and occur in a 
matrix of residential and agricultural development.
    Impacts to the Yelm pocket gopher, Olympia pocket gopher, and 
Tenino pocket gopher would result from the majority of HCP-covered 
development and maintenance activities in their respective ranges. As 
there is uncertainty about the number of individuals that would be 
impacted and it is not practical to express the amount or extent of 
anticipated take in terms of number of individuals, the Thurston HCP 
treats impacts to habitat as a surrogate for impacts to individuals. 
Habitat likely to be impacted is largely already fragmented and 
degraded in quality, and occupancy by the covered species is currently 
uncommon. To offset unavoidable impacts under the Thurston HCP's 
conservation program, Thurston County would secure, stabilize, and 
expand subspecies strongholds, while also contributing to subspecies 
recovery by protecting occupied habitat in strategic locations. To 
accomplish this, Thurston County would establish and permanently 
maintain a system of:
     New reserves in the ranges of each of the three Mazama 
pocket gopher subspecies;
     Working land conservation easements in the ranges of the 
Yelm pocket gopher and the Tenino pocket gopher; and
     Habitat enhancement on existing reserves in the range of 
the Yelm pocket gopher.
    A biological goal of the Thurston HCP is to maintain viable 
populations of the Yelm pocket gopher, Olympia pocket gopher, and the 
Tenino pocket gopher in Thurston County. Measurable conservation 
objectives include the permanent protection of over 4,500 functional-
acres of Mazama pocket gopher habitat distributed among existing and 
new reserves and working lands easements. Expected effects of HCP 
implementation on these subspecies and their designated critical 
habitats are described in greater detail in the Thurston HCP and will 
be analyzed in the EIS.
Oregon Spotted Frog
    The Service listed the Oregon spotted frog as a threatened species 
throughout its range on September 29, 2014 (79 FR 51658) and designated 
critical habitat on June 10, 2016 (81 FR 29336).
    Historically, the Oregon spotted frog ranged from British Columbia 
to northeastern California. In Washington, the Oregon spotted frog was 
historically found in the Puget Trough from the Canadian border to the 
Columbia River, and east to the Washington Cascades. Current 
distribution is limited to four watersheds in the Puget Trough and two 
watersheds in the southeast Cascades. In the Thurston HCP-covered area, 
the species occurs in the floodplain and tributaries of the upper Black 
River drainage in tributaries to Black Lake and the Black River. The 
full extent of the population's distribution, abundance, and status in 
the Black River has not been determined.
    Oregon spotted frogs require shallow water areas for egg and 
tadpole survival; perennially deep, moderately vegetated pools for 
adult and juvenile survival in the dry season; and perennial water for 
protecting all age classes during cold, wet weather. The Oregon spotted 
frog primarily inhabits emergent wetland habitats in forested 
landscapes, although it is not typically found under forest canopy. 
Individuals are found in or near perennial waterbodies, such as 
springs, ponds, lakes, sluggish streams, irrigation canals, or roadside 
ditches, and can make use of a variety of pond types as long as there 
is sufficient vegetation and seasonal habitat available for egg-laying, 
tadpole rearing, summer feeding, and overwintering. In the Thurston 
HCP-covered area, Oregon spotted frogs are also documented to select 
areas of relatively shallow water with less emergent vegetation and 
more submergent vegetation than adjacent habitats.
    Oregon spotted frogs in the Thurston HCP-covered area have small 
population sizes; fragmented habitat with low connectivity; and face 
threats from wetland loss from development and altered hydrology, 
introduced species including reed canarygrass and bullfrogs, shrub 
encroachment, loss of beaver dams, and poor water quality.
    Impacts to Oregon spotted frogs would be caused by a small number 
of HCP-covered development and maintenance activities, because habitat 
for the species is limited to certain portions of the plan area. As 
there is

[[Page 65864]]

uncertainty about the number of individuals that would be impacted and 
it is not practical to express the amount or extent of anticipated take 
in terms of number of individuals, the Thurston HCP treats impacts to 
habitat as a surrogate for impacts to individuals. Habitat likely to be 
impacted is likely to be already degraded. To offset unavoidable 
impacts, under the Thurston HCP's conservation program, Thurston County 
would establish new reserves to secure, stabilize, and expand Oregon 
spotted frog strongholds. This would provide the ancillary benefit of 
contributing to species recovery. A biological goal of the Thurston HCP 
is to maintain viable populations of the Oregon spotted frog in 
Thurston County. Measurable conservation objectives include the 
establishment and permanent protection of 618 functional-acres of 
Oregon spotted frog habitat, strategically located to increase habitat 
quality, occupancy, and stability. Expected effects of HCP 
implementation on the species and its designated critical habitat are 
described in greater detail in the Thurston HCP and will be analyzed in 
the EIS.
Taylor's Checkerspot Butterfly
    The Service listed the Taylor's checkerspot butterfly as an 
endangered species on November 4, 2013 (78 FR 61452), and designated 
critical habitat on the same date (78 FR 61506).
    The Taylor's checkerspot butterfly was once found throughout native 
grasslands of the north and south Puget Sound, south Vancouver Island, 
and the Willamette Valley of Oregon. The historical range and the 
species' abundance is not precisely known, because exhaustive searches 
did not occur until recently. Northwest grasslands were formerly more 
widespread, larger and interconnected--conditions that likely would 
have supported a greater distribution and abundance of the Taylor's 
checkerspot butterfly. Before its decline, the Taylor's checkerspot 
butterfly was documented at more than 70 sites in British Columbia, 
Washington, and Oregon.
    Habitat requirements for the Taylor's checkerspot butterfly consist 
of open grasslands and native grass/oak woodland sites where abundant 
food plants are available for larvae and adult feeding. These sites 
include inland prairies on post-glacial, gravelly outwash, coastal 
bluffs, and balds (small openings within forested landscapes).
    The major limiting factors affecting the Taylor's checkerspot 
butterfly are related to the significant loss of habitat, largely due 
to agricultural and urban development, encroachment of trees, and the 
spread of invasive plants that threaten the species' native grasslands. 
Pesticide use and recreational activities may also pose a direct threat 
to the butterflies themselves. Over time, these pressures have led to 
smaller and smaller numbers of existing populations. Most of the 
remaining Taylor's checkerspot butterfly habitat patches are a 
considerable distance from one another, likely well beyond the normal 
dispersal distance of the species. Natural recolonization is unlikely 
as populations disappear, but captive breeding and reintroduction have 
been shown to be successful for creating new populations for the 
subspecies, including within the Thurston HCP-covered area.
    Impacts to the Taylor's checkerspot butterfly would be caused by a 
small number of HCP-covered development and maintenance activities 
taking place within the potential dispersal distance of butterflies 
from known populations. As there is uncertainty about the number of 
individuals that would be impacted and it is not practical to express 
the amount or extent of anticipated take in terms of number of 
individuals, the Thurston HCP treats impacts to habitat as a surrogate 
for impacts to individuals. Habitat likely to be impacted is along 
fragmented edges of managed, occupied habitat, and is not known to be 
occupied. To offset unavoidable impacts, under the Thurston HCP's 
conservation program, Thurston County would enhance existing reserves 
to expand species strongholds, while also implementing other 
conservation actions to help facilitate species recovery. A biological 
goal of the Thurston HCP is to maintain viable populations of the 
Taylor's checkerspot butterfly in Thurston County. Measurable 
conservation objectives include the enhancement and permanent 
maintenance of 16 functional-acres of Taylor's checkerspot butterfly 
habitat, strategically located to increase habitat quality, occupancy, 
and stability. Expected effects of HCP implementation on the species 
and its designated critical habitat are described in greater detail in 
the Thurston HCP and will be analyzed in the EIS.
Oregon Vesper Sparrow
    The Service initiated a status review to determine whether Oregon 
vesper sparrow warrants listing under the ESA on June 27, 2018 (83 FR 
30091), in response to a petition to list the species as endangered or 
threatened with critical habitat, that was received on November 8, 
2017.
    The Oregon vesper sparrow is a ground-nesting migratory bird. The 
Oregon vesper sparrow was considered to be historically abundant, but 
is currently rare in the south Puget lowlands. Landscape position 
appears to be an important factor, with most historical observations in 
the Thurston HCP-covered area occurring in the greater Yelm Prairie 
area. In the HCP-covered area, the Oregon vesper sparrow uses large 
patches (over 50 acres) of grassland and prairie for nesting, foraging, 
and breeding. Habitat occurs in lowland valleys with moderately short 
grass and forb cover, some patchy bare ground and sparsely vegetated 
areas, and some shrub cover or low amounts of tree cover. However, 
sightings remain uncommon in habitat meeting these criteria. The Oregon 
vesper sparrow overwinters outside the HCP-covered area, mostly in 
California.
    Vesper sparrow habitat in the Thurston HCP-covered area is used 
during the breeding season, so nest success (i.e., reproductive 
success) can be limited by land uses. Mowing, intensive grazing, and 
other ground-disturbing activities during the nesting season risk 
damage to eggs or injury to nestlings.
    Impacts to the Oregon vesper sparrow would be caused by a small 
number of HCP-covered development and maintenance activities taking 
place within the potential dispersal distance of vesper sparrows from 
known populations. As there is uncertainty about the number of 
individuals that would be impacted, and it is not practical to express 
the amount or extent of anticipated take in terms of number of 
individuals, the Thurston HCP treats impacts to habitat within the 
likely range of the species as a surrogate for impacts to individuals. 
Habitat likely to be impacted is already degraded in quality and likely 
to have some history of incompatible land use, and is mostly not known 
to be occupied. To offset unavoidable impacts under the Thurston HCP's 
conservation program, Thurston County would establish working land 
conservation easements to secure, stabilize, and expand Oregon vesper 
sparrow strongholds, while also implementing other conservation actions 
to promote the species' recovery. A biological goal of the Thurston HCP 
is to maintain viable populations of the Oregon vesper sparrow in 
Thurston County. Measurable conservation objectives include the 
permanent protection of 25 functional-acres of Oregon vesper sparrow 
habitat, strategically located to increase habitat quality, occupancy, 
and stability. Expected effects of HCP implementation on the species 
are described in greater

[[Page 65865]]

detail in the Thurston HCP and will be analyzed in the EIS.

Summary of Expected Impacts

    The DEIS will identify and describe the effects of the proposed 
Federal action on the human environment that are reasonably foreseeable 
and have a reasonably close causal relationship to the proposed action. 
This includes effects that occur at the same time and place as the 
proposed action or alternatives and/or effects that are later in time 
or farther removed in distance from the proposed action or 
alternatives. Expected impacts include, but are not limited to, 
positive and negative impacts to the covered species and critical 
habitat, geology and soils, air quality, water resources, other 
biological resources, health and safety, land and shoreline use, 
recreation, aesthetics, historical and cultural resources, 
transportation, public services and utilities, and socioeconomics. The 
effects of these expected impact will be analyzed in the EIS.
    The analysis will consider the adequacy of each alternative to 
maintain or enhance the status of the covered species at appropriate 
scales in light of the expected effects and other best available 
information. Impacts to air quality, water resources, and other 
biological resources, such as fish, wildlife, and the prairie and 
forest ecosystems, are expected to include incremental negative impacts 
from development that are minimized and or mitigated at the landscape 
level through application of applicable law, including local and State 
regulations, and implementation of conservation strategies under each 
alternative. Under each alternative, significant impacts to water 
resources, State-protected species, and ecosystems would typically be 
avoided or minimized by the County's compliance with local and State 
regulations governing development, and under any alternative individual 
projects that may significantly impact these resources undergo 
additional public review under the Washington State Environmental 
Policy Act (SEPA). The action alternatives' conservation programs may 
serve to offset or partially offset impacts on air quality, water 
resources, and other biological resources at the landscape scale, 
though these actions would be targeted at offsetting impacts to covered 
species. Localized positive and negative impacts to recreation, 
aesthetics, historical and cultural resources, and transportation may 
result from HCP implementation due to the expected changes in land use 
from development (covered activities) and through expansion of 
permanently maintained open spaces (conservation program). Significant 
effects on public services and utilities are not expected to result 
from any of the alternatives, because these resources are likely to be 
developed to meet demand where development does occur under any 
alternative.

Anticipated Permits and Authorizations

    In addition to the requested ITP, Thurston County will manage 
covered activities to comply with Washington State endangered and 
protected species regulations; Washington State Growth Management Act, 
which includes State and local protection of historic and cultural 
resources implemented through the County's Comprehensive Plan; 
Washington State Shoreline Management Act; Washington State Hydraulic 
Code; Thurston County Critical Area Ordinances; State and local 
requirements for administrative procedures; and other regulations. To 
implement the HCP, Thurston County will establish participation 
agreements with their permitees and other implementation partners. 
Individual projects conducted under the HCP will undergo further public 
review, as appropriate, through the Washington SEPA.

Schedule for the Decision-Making Process

    The Service will conduct an environmental review to analyze the 
effects of the proposed permit action, along with other alternatives 
considered and the associated impacts of each alternative for the 
development of the DEIS. Following completion of the environmental 
review, the Service will publish a notice of availability and request 
for public comments on the DEIS, the County's ITP application, and the 
draft HCP. The Service expects to make the DEIS and draft HCP available 
to the public in spring 2021. After public review and comment, we will 
evaluate the permit application, associated documents, and any comments 
received, to determine whether the permit application meets the 
requirements of section 10(a)(1)(B) of the ESA. We will also evaluate 
whether issuance of the requested ITP would comply with section 7 of 
the ESA. The Service expects to make the FEIS and final HCP available 
to the public in mid-2021. At least 30 days after the FEIS is 
available, the record of decision will be completed in accordance with 
applicable timeframes established in 40 CFR 1506.11.

Public Scoping Process

    The issuance of this notice of intent provides an opportunity for 
public involvement in the scoping process to guide the development of 
the EIS.
    To help protect the public and limit the spread of the COVID-19 
virus, the public scoping meetings will be conducted online to 
accommodate best practices and local guidelines in place at the time 
this notice was prepared. See DATES and ADDRESSES for the dates and 
times of the virtual public scoping meetings. The virtual public 
scoping meetings will provide Thurston County and the Service an 
opportunity to present information pertinent to the Thurston HCP and 
for the public to ask questions on the scope of issues and alternatives 
we should consider when preparing the EIS. No opportunity for oral 
comments will be provided. Written comments may be submitted by the 
methods listed in ADDRESSES.

Reasonable Accommodations

    Persons needing reasonable accommodations in order to attend and 
participate in either of the virtual public scoping meetings should 
contact the Service's Washington Fish and Wildlife Office, using one of 
the methods listed in ADDRESSES as soon as possible. In order to allow 
sufficient time to process requests, please make contact no later than 
one week before the desired public meeting. Information regarding this 
proposed action is available in alternative formats upon request.

Request for Identification of Potential Alternatives, Information, and 
Analyses Relevant to the Proposed Actions

    We request data, comments, views, arguments, new information, 
analysis, new alternatives, or suggestions from the public; affected 
Federal, State, Tribal, and local governments, agencies, and offices; 
the scientific community; industry; or any other interested party on 
the proposed action. We will consider these comments in developing the 
DEIS. Specifically, we seek:
    1. Biological information, analysis and relevant data concerning 
the covered species and other wildlife;
    2. Information on Oregon vesper sparrow occurrence in Thurston 
County;
    3. Potential effects that the proposed permit action could have on 
the covered species, and other endangered or threatened species, and 
their associated ecological communities or habitats;
    4. Potential effects that the proposed permit action could have on 
other aspects of the human environment, including ecological, 
aesthetic, historic, cultural, economic, social, environmental justice, 
or health effects;

[[Page 65866]]

    5. Other possible reasonable alternatives to the proposed permit 
action that the Service should consider, including additional or 
alternative avoidance, minimization, and mitigation measures;
    6. The presence of historic properties--including archaeological 
sites, buildings and structures, historic events, sacred and 
traditional areas, and other historic preservation concerns--in the 
proposed permit area, which are required to be considered in project 
planning by the National Historic Preservation Act;
    7. Information on other current or planned activities in, or in the 
vicinity of, Thurston County and their possible impacts on the covered 
species, including any connected actions that are closely related and 
should be discussed in the same DEIS; and
    8. Other information relevant to the Thurston HCP and its impacts 
on the human environment.
    Comments received in writing during the 2013 public comment period 
were retained, and do not need be provided again during this public 
comment period to be considered during this review. Once the DEIS is 
prepared, there will be further opportunity for comment on this 
proposed permit action through an additional public comment period.

Public Availability of Comments

    You may submit your comments and materials by one of the methods 
listed in ADDRESSES. Before including your address, phone number, or 
other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be 
aware that your entire comment--including your personal identifying 
information--might be made publicly available at any time. While you 
can ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying 
information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be 
able to do so. All submissions from organizations or businesses, and 
from individuals identifying themselves as representatives or officials 
of organizations or businesses, will be made available for public 
disclosure in their entirety.
    Comments and materials we receive, as well as supporting 
documentation we use in preparing the DEIS, will be available for 
public inspection online in Docket No. FWS-R1-ES-2020-0101 at https://www.regulations.gov/ (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT).

Decision Maker and Nature of Decision to Be Made

    The Decision Maker is the Service's Regional Director. If after 
publication of the ROD we determine that all requirements are met for 
ITP issuance, the Regional Director will issue a decision on the 
requested ITP.

Authority

    We provide this notice in accordance with the requirements of 
Section 10(c) of the ESA (16 U.S.C. 1539(c)) and NEPA regulations 
pertaining to the publication of a notice of intent to issue an EIS (40 
CFR 1501.9(d)).

Robyn Thorson,
Regional Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-22963 Filed 10-15-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333-15-P