There are currently more than 140 northern spotted owl sites on the Companies' lands within the planning area, and approximately 70 owl sites within one mile of the Companies' ownership. The Plan would allow incidental take of northern spotted owls consistent with providing adequate nesting, roosting, and foraging habitat necessary to maintain a viable breeding owl population on the Companies' lands throughout the permit period. The proposed permit and Plan would also authorize take associated with management activities within marbled murrelet habitat and establish a system of Marbled Murrelet Conservation Areas designed to protect most of the highest quality old-growth redwood forest murrelet habitat on the property. Under the Plan, the Companies may, at their option, conduct subsequent watershed analysis to tailor mitigation prescriptions to site specific conditions. The American peregrine falcon, bald eagle, and western snowy plover are included in the permit application to cover circumstances where these listed species may occur on the property and at some point be affected by the Companies' proposed covered activities.
Information supporting inclusion of the Pacific lamprey on the permit is limited.
The National Marine Fisheries Service will consider all information available at the close of the comment period to determine whether permit coverage can be provided for the Pacific lamprey. The Services invite the public to comment on the proposed Habitat Conservation Plan and the draft Implementing Agreement. In order to meet that deadline, the Services anticipate that they will not be able to extend the public comment period. The documents are also available for review at the following government offices and libraries. Michael J. Spear, Acting Regional Director, Fish and Wildlife Service, Region 1, Portland, Oregon.