State of Washington
DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE
Habitat Program: 600 Capitol Way N, Olympia, Washington 98501-1091 - (360) 902-2534
DETERMINATION OF SIGNIFICANCE
AND REQUEST FOR COMMENTS ON SCOPE OF EIS
Name of Proposal: NEPA/SEPA EIS for the PROPOSED Programmatic HABITAT
CONSERVATION PLAN FOR THE WASHINGTON DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE'S HYDRAULIC PROJECT APPROVAL PROGRAM
Description of Proposal: The National Marine Fisheries Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Services) and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) intend to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) related to the issuance of an Incidental Take Permit (ITP) for WDFW's Hydraulic Project Approval (HPA) program. WDFW proposes to write a Programmatic Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) to allow the Services to issue the ITP. Preparation of the EIS is pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA). In addition, there will be a SEPA threshold determination for changes made to the HPA Washington Administrative Code (WAC Chapter 220-1 1 0) before the Final EIS is completed.
Proponent: Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
Location of Proposal, including street, if any: Statewide
SEPA Lead Agency: Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
NEPA Lead Agencies: National Marine Fisheries Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
EIS Required: The lead agencies have determined that this proposal may have a significant impact on the environment. An environmental impact statement (EIS) is required under RCW 43.21C.030(2)(c) and will be prepared. An environmental checklist or other materials indicating the likely environmental impacts can be reviewed at our offices.
The lead agencies have identified the following areas for discussion in the EIS: Alternatives available if an HCP is not written, such as a Section 7 Consultation or a 4(d) Rule; writing an HCP for full coverage of all HPA permits; and a No-Action alternative. The Scoping period will allow other alternatives to be investigated. In addition, the following issues will be discussed in the EIS: Fish, Shellfish, and Wildlife, Geology and Soils, Air Quality, Water Quality and Quantity, Land Use, Social and Economic Conditions, Cultural Resources, Recreation, and Visual Resources.
Scoping: Agencies, affected tribes and members of the public are invited to comment on the scope of the EIS. You may comment on alternatives, mitigation measures, probable impacts, and licenses or other approvals that may be required.
Method and Deadline for giving us your comments: All comments and questions should be sent to the HPA HCP Project, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Habitat Program, 600 Capitol Way North (MS 43200), Olympia, WA 98501-1091. They may also be E-mailed to HPAHCPComments@dfw.wa.gov or submitted on-line via the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife's web site, http://www.wa.gov/wdfw/ From this site, click on "Habitat Science," then to the HPA HCP Project under "Permits and Regulations." Select the draft document to which your comments refer, then follow the directions to complete and send the on-screen response form.
Written comments should be received at the addresses above no later than
November 23,1999.
If you have questions about the project, please contact Mike Judge at (360) 9022407. If you have questions on the scoping process please contact the SEPA Coordinator, WDFW, Cynthia Pratt, at (360) 902-2575 or E-mail prattcrp@dfw.wa.gov or Nell Fuller, NEPA Program Analyst, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, (360) 753-5832 or E-mail Cristin_Fuller@r1.fws.gov
Public meetings are scheduled to be held at the following locations and times:
Olympia, Washington on October 6, 1999 from 7:00-9:30 p.m. at the Washington State
Capitol Campus, General Administration Building Auditorium, 210 11th Avenue South;
Ellensburg, Washington on October 7, 1999 from 7:00-9:30 p.m. at the Central Washington University Student Union Building, Yakima Room;
Longview, Washington on October 12, 1999 from 7:00-9:30 p.m. at the Cowlitz County Public Utility District, 961 12th Avenue;
Everett, Washington on October 14, 1999 from 7:00-9:30 p.m. at the Everett Community
College, Jackson Center, JCR Room, 801 Wetmore Avenue;
Spokane, Washington on October 19, 1999 from 7:00-9:30 p.m. at the Spokane Falls Community College, Student Union Building in Lounge Rooms A and B, 341 0 West Fort George Wright Drive; and
Okanogan, Washington on October 20, 1999 from 7:00-9:30 at the Okanogan PUD, 13 31 2nd Avenue.
WDFW Responsible Official: Peter Birch
Position/Title: Environmental Services Division Manager
Address: 600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, WA 98501
DATE OF ISSUE: September 23,1999 SIGNATURE: for Peter Birch
To conserve resources indicate if you would like to receive any of the documents referenced in the attachment or would like to be dropped from the mailing list. Please note in making your choice that the Full Draft and Final EIS will be available on the Internet, in CD form, in regional public libraries and WDFW regional offices throughout the state. You may choose any of the options at any step of the EIS process.
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