Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Elliott State Research Forest Habitat Conservation Plan

"This environmental impact statement (EIS) evaluates the environmental consequences of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) issuing incidental take permits (ITPs) associated with the Elliott State Research Forest Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP), in accordance with section 10(a)(1)(B) of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973, as amended. The Oregon Department of State Lands (DSL) prepared the HCP in support of its permit applications. DSL is seeking take authorization from FWS and NMFS for three species: northern spotted owl, marbled murrelet, and Oregon Coast coho. The permits, if issued, would authorize take of the covered species that may occur incidental to DSL’s forest management and research activities on 83,326 acres of forest lands in Douglas and Coos Counties overseen by the State Land
Board. The EIS presents effects of the proposed HCP and three alternatives on geology and soils, water resources, vegetation, fish and wildlife, air quality, climate change, recreation and visual resources, cultural resources, tribal resources, socioeconomics, and environmental justice. FWS, as the federal lead agency, prepared this EIS pursuant to the Services’ NEPA requirements under the Council on Environmental Quality’s regulations (40 CFR 1500–1508, May 2022), as well as
internal agency guidance. FWS and NMFS will make separate decisions on whether to issue an ITP to the applicant, relying on the criteria for ITPs set forth in ESA and its implementing regulations."