Service Releases Draft Economic Analysis for Proposed Designation of Critical Habitat for the Marbled Murrelet 

For Release on June 26, 2007
Contact:   Douglas Zimmer, Western Washington Fish and Wildlife Office,
(360) 753-4370

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today released a draft analysis
estimating the potential costs related to the conservation of areas
proposed for marbled murrelet critical habitat at $69.4 million to $1.4
billion over the next 20 years. In releasing the analysis, the Service
reopened the public comment period on its September 2006 proposal to
designate critical habitat for the species. The 30-day public comment
period opens today.

The Service is proposing to designate 221,692 acres of critical habitat for
the marbled murrelet, a threatened species protected under the Endangered
Species Act. Areas proposed for critical habitat include portions of
California , Oregon and Washington .

The draft economic analysis addresses the impacts of conservation efforts
for the species on activities occurring on lands proposed for critical
habitat designation, as well as those on lands proposed for exclusion from
the critical habitat designation. The analysis measures lost economic value
associated with 1) timber management, 2) development, 3) recreation, 4)
other land use activities including transportation and mining, and 5)
administrative costs associated with Endangered Species Act section 7
consultations, many of which are already occurring due to the listing of
the marbled murrelet. The $69.4 million figure represents an estimate of
potential costs associated with all ongoing conservation activities for the
marbled murrelet.  The $1.4 billion estimate assumes that all timber
harvest and development within the proposed critical habitat would be
precluded and is considered highly unlikely based on past consultations.

For the areas proposed for exclusion, the draft economic analysis estimates
potential costs related to marbled murrelet conservation could total $1.2
billion, in current dollars, over the next 20 years if those areas were to
be included in the final critical habitat designation.

The marbled murrelet is a small seabird that spends most of its time in the
marine environment and nests in forests along the Pacific Coast . The
Service’s 2006 critical habitat proposal identifies 3,590,642 acres in
Oregon , Washington and California as critical habitat but proposes to
exclude 3,368,950 acres already protected under other existing regulations
or plans, such as the Northwest Forest Plan, state and tribal management
plans and habitat conservation plans. An additional 1,574,201 acres were
considered but not included in the proposal because they already are
managed in ways that meet the needs of the marbled murrelet. These include
federal wilderness areas, tribal conservation easements and Redwood state
and national parks.

If the proposed exclusions are finalized, the final critical habitat
designation will include 112,037 acres in California , 82,747 acres in
Oregon and 26,908 acres in Washington . After the exclusions, approximately
1 percent of the proposed area is federal land, 80 percent is city, county
or state land, and 19 percent is private land. These are areas not covered
by a management plan that provides protection to the marbled murrelet and
its habitat.

The critical habitat proposal would revise a 1996 critical habitat
designation for the marbled murrelet that included nearly 3.9 million
acres.  The proposal designates only those areas of suitable habitat known
to be occupied by marbled murrelets and to contain features essential to
the species' survival.  Consistent with the 1996 designation, no marine
areas are being proposed for designation, because they do not require
special management.

Critical habitat identifies specific geographic areas that contain features
essential for the conservation of a threatened or endangered species and
which may require special management considerations.  The designation of
critical habitat does not affect land ownership or establish a refuge,
wilderness, reserve, preserve, or other special conservation area.  It does
not allow government or public access to private lands.  However, federal
agencies that undertake, fund or permit activities that may affect critical
habitat are required to consult with the Service to ensure such actions do
not adversely modify or destroy designated critical habitat.

The notice of availability of the draft economic analysis was published in
today’s Federal Register.  The complete report and proposed rule to
designate critical habitat for the marbled murrelet are available on the
Internet at http://www.fws.gov/westwafwo/ or by request to the Western
Washington Fish and Wildlife Office Manager. The draft economic analysis
was prepared by Industrial Economics Incorporated of Cambridge ,
Massachusetts .

The Service will consider comments from all interested parties received
within the 30-day comment period which opened June 26, 2007 . Comments
previously submitted need not be resubmitted as they are already part of
the public record and will be fully considered in preparation of the final
rule.  Written comments and information may be submitted by mail to Ken
Berg, Field Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Western Washington
Fish and Wildlife Office, 510 Desmond Drive SE., Suite 101, Lacey, WA
98503-1273; hand-delivered to our Western Washington Fish and Wildlife
Office at the address given above; faxed to 360-753-9405; or sent by
electronic mail (e mail) to MurreletCH@fws.gov.  For directions on how to
submit e-mail comments, see the Public Comments Solicited section in the
Notice of Availability. Written comments also may be submitted via the
Federal Rulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov.  Follow the
instructions for submitting comments.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal Federal agency
responsible for conserving, protecting and enhancing fish, wildlife and
plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American
people. The Service manages the 95-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge
System, which encompasses 547 national wildlife refuges, thousands of small
wetlands and other special management areas. It also operates 69 national
fish hatcheries, 64 fishery resources offices and 81 ecological services
field stations. The agency enforces federal wildlife laws, administers the
Endangered Species Act, manages migratory bird populations, restores
nationally significant fisheries, conserves and restores wildlife habitat
such as wetlands, and helps foreign and Native American tribal governments
with their conservation efforts. It also oversees the Federal Assistance
program, which distributes hundreds of millions of dollars in excise taxes
on fishing and hunting equipment to state fish and wildlife agencies.

The Western Washington Fish and Wildlife Office of the USFWS is based in
Lacey, Washington and addresses Federal fish and wildlife issues from the
crest of the Cascade Mountains to the Pacific Ocean and from the Canadian
border to the Columbia River . The office is responsible for listing and
recovery of and consultation on species protected under the Endangered
Species Act; the development of Conservation Plans; collaborative
implementation of the Northwest Forest Plan in Western Washington; issues
involving migratory birds and other species protected by Federal laws;
environmental contaminants assessments and spill response; fish and
wildlife habitat restoration; review of proposed Federal projects,
including Clean Water Act activities, and technical assistance on fishery
resource issues. The Western Washington Fish and Wildlife Office is the
lead USFWS point of contact for issues with statewide implications.