Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement To Allow Incidental Take of Multiple Species by Non-industrial Private Forest Landowners in Lewis County, Washington

Résumé

Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) (collectively, the Services) are providing notice that they intend to gather information necessary for the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). The EIS will analyze options for issuing permits to numerous landowners to potentially take federally listed species, under the provisions of section 10(a)(1)(B) and/or 10(a)(1)(A) of the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The EIS will address the impacts associated with the proposed action, and other alternatives for forest management by nonindustrial private landowners. The Services are furnishing this notice to advise other agencies and the public of our intentions and to announce the scheduling of public meetings for scoping. The public is encouraged to attend a public meeting or provide written comments on the scope of the issues and potential alternatives to be included in the EIS.