PNW
bull trout habitat comments
reopen;
economic analysis ready
(4/5/04)
April 5, 2004 - Proposed critical habitat
for the Klamath River and Columbia River populations of bull trout is open
to public comment again, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said.
The agency also announced that the draft economic analysis of the proposed
designation is available. FWS said it’s reopening the comment period to
allow interested parties to comment simultaneously on the proposed rule
and the associated draft economic analysis.
FWS listed more than 20 categories in which it’s especially interested
in getting comments. At the top of the list:
• Reasons why any habitat should or should not be designated as critical
habitat, including whether the benefits of excluding an area outweigh
benefits of including it;
• Specific information on the amount and distribution of bull trout and
its habitat, and which habitat is essential to conserving the species, and
why;
• Land use designations and current or planned activities in the subject
areas and their possible impacts on proposed critical habitat; and
• Any foreseeable economic or other impacts from the proposed
designation on critical habitat, especially on small entities or families.
The agency also asked for comments on the effects on Bonneville Power
Administration costs and timber harvest, unidentified effects on BLM and
Forest Service land grazing, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers construction
and maintenance.
FWS proposed in November 2002 to designate critical habitat for the two
bull trout populations on 18,471 miles of streams and 532,731 acres of
lakes, reservoirs, and marshes in Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Montana.
Under a court-approved settlement agreement, FWS must submit the final
rule designating critical habitat for publication by Sept. 21.
FWS said its draft economic analysis suggests total potential economic
costs of the designation may range from $20.4 million to $31.3 million
over a decade. In addition, administrative costs for consultations could
cost about $9.6 million annually and total project modification costs
could range from $10.8 million to $21.7 million annually.
Related
Links:
Official
notice
FR
Doc 04-7548
Links
to proposed rule, map and agency Q&A
U.S.
Fish & Wildlife Service - Bull Trout - Critical Habitat
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