Proposed Habitat Conservation Plan for the Mazama Pocket Gopher; Receipt of Incidental Take Permit Application; Infrastructure Improvements in Thurston County, Washington

Issuing agencies

Abstract

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), received an application from Thurston County Public Works (applicant) for an incidental take permit (ITP) pursuant to the Endangered Species Act. The ITP would authorize take of the Yelm subspecies of the Mazama pocket gopher (Thomomys mazama yelmensis), incidental to otherwise lawful safety and infrastructure improvements at Steilacoom Road and at the Marvin and Mullen Road intersection in Thurston County, Washington. The application includes a habitat conservation plan (HCP) with measures to minimize and mitigate the impacts of the taking on the covered species. We have also prepared a draft environmental action statement for our preliminary determination that the HCP and our permit decision may be eligible for categorical exclusion under the National Environmental Policy Act. We provide this notice to open a public comment period and invite comments from all interested parties regarding the documents.