Western Oregon State Forests Habitat Conservation Plan
Summary
NOAA Fisheries announces the availability of a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (Draft EIS) for the Western Oregon State Forests Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) and invites public comment in accordance with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) prepared the HCP in support of their requests for Endangered Species Act (ESA) incidental take permits (ITPs) authorizing incidental take of covered species from forest and recreation management activities. These activities include timber harvest; reforestation and young stand management; road system management activities; construction and maintenance of quarries, borrow sites, and stockpile sites; fire management; recreation infrastructure construction and maintenance; and implementation of the HCP’s conservation strategy. The Draft EIS analyzes the potential effects of issuance of the ITPs and approval of the HCP.
Dear Recipient Letter (PDF, 1 page)
Proposed HCP (PDF, 1132 pages)
NOAA Fisheries and Fish & Wildlife Service will also be hosting a public meeting to provide information on the Draft EIS and HCP and take oral comments.
Comments
Written comments on the Draft EIS and HCP may be submitted at www.regulations.gov. The comment period will be open until June 1, 2022. Oral comments will be accepted at the virtual public meeting.
Virtual Public Meeting
A virtual public meeting was held on April 6, 2022, from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. (Pacific Time). The meeting included presentations on the Draft EIS and the HCP followed by oral comments from participants.
Past meetings
March 31, 2021—NEPA Public Scoping Meeting
Anticipated Schedule
- Draft EIS and Public Review - March-May 2022 (Complete)
- Final EIS - TBD
- Record of Decision - TBD