Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Proposed Special Rule for the Conservation of the Northern Spotted Owl on Non-Federal Lands

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 17

RIN 1018-AD20

Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Proposed Special

Rule for the Conservation of the Northern Spotted Owl on Non-Federal

Lands

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Extension of Public Comment Period.

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SUMMARY: The Service issued a Draft Environmental Alternatives Analysis

(EAA) for the proposed special rule for the conservation of the

northern spotted owl on non-Federal lands in California and Washington,

which is currently out for public comment. The proposed special rule

was published in the Federal Register on February 17, 1995 (60 FR

9484). The comment period for both documents was scheduled to end on

April 8, 1996. The intent of this document is to extend the comment

period to June 3, 1996.

The Service has received numerous requests to extend the comment

period for these documents from state regulatory agencies, conservation

groups and industry officials in both Washington and California. In

addition, the State of Washington has prepared a proposed rule under

authority of the Washington Timber Practices Board that would address

impacts of forest practices to the northern spotted owl. The state has

asked the Service to consider their proposed state rule as a possible

alternative to the current special rule proposed by the Service. The

Service seeks additional comments from the interested public, agencies,

and interest groups on the Draft EAA, the proposed special rule, and on

the State of Washington's proposed rule as a possible alternative to

the rule currently proposed by the Fish and Wildlife.

DATES: The comment period for written comments is extended until June

3, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Comments and materials concerning this Draft Environmental

Alternatives Analysis and the proposed rule should be sent to Mr.

Michael J. Spear, Regional Director, Region 1, U.S. Fish and Wildlife

Service, 911 N.E. 11th Avenue, Portland, Oregon 97232-4181. The

complete file for this proposed rule will be available for public

inspection, by appointment during normal business hours, at the U.S.

Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Technical Support for Forest

Resources, 333 S.W. 1st Avenue, 4th Floor, Portland, Oregon 97204,

(503/326-6218).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Curt Smitch, Assistant Regional

Director, Region 1, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 3704 Griffin Lane

S.E., Suite 102, Olympia, Washington 98501, (206/534-9330); or Ron

Crete, Office of Technical Support for Forest Resources, 333 S.W. 1st

Avenue, Portland, Oregon 97232-4181, (503/326-6218).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Service has prepared a draft document

called an Environmental Alternatives Analysis (EAA) that describes and

analyzes the potential environmental effects of the proposed special

rule and six alternatives for the conservation of the northern spotted

owl on non-Federal lands in Washington and California. Each alternative

would revise to varying degrees the Federal prohibitions and exceptions

regarding the incidental take of spotted owls on non-Federal lands in

California and Washington. The proposed rule, analyzed in the Draft EAA

as Alternative 3, was published in the Federal Register on February 17,

1995 (60 FR, No. 33, Page 9484).

In addition, the State of Washington has prepared a proposed rule

to address the impacts of forest practices on northern spotted owls in

that state. The state's proposed rule is similar in many ways to the

Service's proposed 4(d) rule, although there are some differences. The

state has asked the Service to consider the state rule as an

alternative to the Service's current proposed rule.

The Service is in the process of analyzing the state rule, and

plans to publish in the Federal Register within two weeks a summary of

the state's rule and a comparison of that rule with the Service's

proposed rule. The state's comment period for their proposed rule has

expired, however, the Service is interested in receiving comment from

the interested public regarding the possibility of the Washington state

rule as an alternative to the Service's currently proposed special

rule. To receive a copy of the State of Washington proposed rule and

the state's Draft Environmental Impact Statement, write to Washington

State Department of Natural Resources, Forest Practices Division, P.O.

Box 47012, Olympia, WA 98504-7012, Attn: Judith Holter.

The Service's Draft EAA, including all maps, tables, charts, and

graphs, remains available on the Internet's World Wide Web at http://

www.r1.fws.gov/4deaa/welcome.html.

Dated: April 3, 1996.

Don Weathers,

Acting Regional Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Region 1,

Portland, Oregon.

[FR Doc. 96-8766 Filed 4-5-96; 8:45 am]

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