Aquatic Lands Habitat Conservation Plan
National Environmental Policy Act
We are developing a Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) for state-owned aquatic lands, and will apply for Incidental Take Permits. The United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), known collectively as the Services, will review the HCP. If the HCP meets the criteria included in the Endangered Species Act and its implementing regulations, the Services will issue Incidental Take Permits.
Issuing an Incidental Take Permit is a federal action that requires analysis under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Both NMFS and USFWS have guidance on performing a NEPA analysis. For details contact Jo Henry at USFWS or John Stadler at NMFS.
Environmental Review & Public Outreach
In October and November 2006, the Services held a series of public scoping meetings in Spokane, Ellensburg, Bellingham, Longview and Seattle. The purpose of these meetings was to encourage public input on the development of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), under the NEPA, for Federal actions related to the Washington Department of Natural Resources' management of state-owned aquatic lands. The scoping report summarizes the comments that the services received during the public comment period.