Reopening of Public Comment Period for Draft Environmental Impact Statement and Application for an Incidental Take Permit for the Simpson Timber Company, Northwest Operations, Habitat Conservation Plan, Thurston, Mason, and Grays Harbor Counties, Washington

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[I.D. 101599J]

Reopening of Public Comment Period for Draft Environmental Impact

Statement and Application for an Incidental Take Permit for the Simpson

Timber Company, Northwest Operations, Habitat Conservation Plan,

Thurston, Mason, and Grays Harbor Counties, Washington

AGENCIES: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic

and Atmospheric Administration, Commerce; Fish and Wildlife Service

(FWS), Interior.

ACTION: Notice of reopened public comment period.

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SUMMARY: NMFS and FWS (the Services) are reopening the public comment

period for the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) and

application for an Incidental Take Permit (Permit) for the Simpson

Timber Company, Northwest Operations, Habitat Conservation Plan,

Thurston, Mason, and Grays Harbor Counties,

[[Page 762]]

Washington (Simpson). The Permit application includes: (1) the proposed

Habitat Conservation Plan; and (2) the proposed Implementing Agreement.

Direct mailings have been sent to affected State and local agencies,

Federal agencies, Tribes, Federal and State legislators, public

interest groups, and other interest parties, informing them of the

reopening.

DATES: Written comments on the permit application, DEIS, Plan, and

Implementing Agreement must be received from interested parties no

later than January 14, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Requests for documents on CD ROM should be made by calling

the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at (360)534-9330. Hardbound copies

are also available for viewing, or partial or complete duplication, at

the following libraries:

Olympia Timberland Library, Reference Desk, 313 8th

Avenue SE, Olympia, WA, (360)352-0595;

William G. Reed Library, Reference Desk, 710 West Alder Street,

Shelton, WA, (360)426-1362;

Hoodsport Timberland Library, 40 North Schoolhouse Hill Road,

Hoodsport, WA, (360)877-9339;

Elma Timberland Library, Information Desk, 118 North 1st

Street, Elma, WA, (360)482-3737;

W.H. Abel Public Library, Information Desk, 125 Main Street South,

Montesano, WA, (360)249-4211; and,

Aberdeen Timberland Library, Reference Desk, 121 East Market

Street, Aberdeen, WA, (360)533-2360.

The documents are also available electronically on the World Wide

Web at http://www.r1.fws.gov/.

Comments and requests for information should be directed to Linda

Saunders, Project Biologist, Fish and Wildlife Service, 510 Desmond

Drive, SE., Suite 102, Lacey, Washington, 98503-1273, (telephone: 360/

753-5826; facsimile: 360/534-9331), and Mike Parton, Project Biologist,

National Marine Fisheries Service, 510 Desmond Drive, SE., Suite 103,

Lacey, Washington, 98503-1273 (telephone: 360/753-4650; facsimile: 360/

753-9517). Comments and materials received will also be available for

public inspection, by appointment, during normal business hours by

calling (360) 534-9330.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On October 29, 1999 (64 FR 57630), the

Services published a document in the Federal Register announcing the

receipt of an application from Simpson for a Permit, and opening a

comment period for the project. That document stated that comments

would be accepted through December 27, 1999. The Services are reopening

the comment period in order to provide additional review and comment

time, recognizing that the traditional holiday season during the latter

part of December may have affected interested parties' ability to

perform a thorough and comprehensive review of the documents.

Dated: December 28, 1999.

Thomas J. Dwyer,

Acting Regional Director, Fish and Wildlife Service, Region 1,

Portland, Oregon.

Dated: December 30, 1999.

Craig Johnson,

Acting Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected

Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.

[FR Doc. 00-263 Filed 1-5-00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510-22-F, 4310-55-F