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Final Environmental Assessment Revision of Critical Habitat for the Northern Spotted Owl

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Final Environmental Assessment Revision of Critical Habitat for the Northern Spotted Owl Final Environmental Assessment Revision of Critical Habitat for the Northern Spotted Owl Prepared by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Region 1 Portland, Oregon November 19, 2012 Table of Contents 1.0 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................ 1 1.1 Purpose of and Need for the Proposed Action .................................................................... 2 1.2 Previous Federal Actions ....................................................................................................... 3 1.3 Northern Spotted Owl .......................................................................................................... 4 1.3.1 Species Description ......................................................................................................... 4 1.3.2 Distribution .................................................................................................................... 5 1.3.3 Habitat ........................................................................................................................... 5 1.3.4 Prey ................................................................................................................................ 6 1.3.5 Life History ..................................................................................................................... 7 1.3.6 Threats ........................................................................................................................... 8 1.4 Endangered Species Act ..................................................................................................... 10 1.4.1 Critical Habitat ............................................................................................................. 10 1.4.2 Regulatory Mechanisms associated with Critical Habitat ........................................... 11 1.5 Scoping and Public Participation ....................................................................................... 14 1.6 Issues ................................................................................................................................. 14 2.0 DESCRIPTION OF ALTERNATIVES ............................................................................................ 17 2.1 Alternative A (No Action Alternative) – 2008 Designation of critical habitat .................... 19 2.2 Alternative B (Proposed Action and Environmentally Preferable Alternative) – Revise critical habitat similar to that described in the proposed revised rule (i.e. no exclusions) ..... 23 2.2.1 Primary Constituent Elements ..................................................................................... 25 2.2.2 Criteria for Defining Essential Habitat ......................................................................... 30 2.3 Alternative C - Alternative C - Revise critical habitat as described in Alternative B, but exclude all non-Federal lands with completed conservation agreements ............................... 33 2.4 Alternative D - Revise critical habitat as described in Alternative B, but exclude all non- Federal lands with completed conservation agreements, all State parks, and all Congressionally reserved natural areas .................................................................................... 35 i 2.5 Alternative E – Revise critical habitat as described in Alternative B, but exclude all non- Federal lands, and all Congressionally reserved natural areas ................................................. 36 2.6 Alternative F (Preferred Alternative) – Revise critical habitat as described in Alternative B, but exclude all lands with completed HCPs and SHAs, all private lands, all Congressionally reserved lands, all State Parks, and all private lands; revise designation on remaining lands to better incorporate habitat essential for the northern spotted owl. ........................................ 37 2.7 Option 1 – Exempt Department of Defense lands ............................................................. 39 2.8 Alternatives Considered but Not Fully Evaluated .............................................................. 40 3.0 AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES ................................... 44 3.1 Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences – Effects of Changes in Land- Use Management on the Environment ..................................................................................... 45 3.1.1 Existing condition ......................................................................................................... 46 3.1.2 Environmental Consequences ..................................................................................... 54 3.2 Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences – Effects on Fish, Wildlife, and Plant Species ............................................................................................................................. 81 3.2.1 Existing Condition ........................................................................................................ 81 3.2.2 Environmental Consequences ..................................................................................... 87 3.3 Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences – Effects of Changes in Linear road maintenance/repair and energy transmission projects on the Environment ................ 110 3.3.1 Existing Condition ...................................................................................................... 110 3.3.2 Environmental Consequences ................................................................................... 111 3.4 Additional Effects ............................................................................................................. 133 3.4.1 Social and Economic Conditions ................................................................................ 133 3.4.2 Indian Lands and Trust Resources ............................................................................. 134 3.4.3 Climate Change .......................................................................................................... 134 3.4.4 Cumulative Impacts ................................................................................................... 140 4.0 COUNCIL ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ANALYSIS OF SIGNIFICANCE ............................... 145 4.1 Context .............................................................................................................................. 146 4.2 Intensity ............................................................................................................................. 148 4.2.1 Impacts that may be both beneficial and adverse. ................................................... 149 4.2.2. Public health and safety. ........................................................................................... 149 ii 4.2.3. Unique characteristics of the geographic area. ........................................................ 150 4.2.4. Highly Controversial Impacts. .................................................................................... 150 4.2.5. Uncertain, unique, or unknown risks. ....................................................................... 152 4.2.6. Precedent-setting aspects. ........................................................................................ 152 4.2.7. Cumulative effects. .................................................................................................... 152 4.2.8. Effects on eligibility for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. ............... 153 4.2.9. Endangered species effects. ...................................................................................... 153 4.2.10 Violation of environmental protection laws. ........................................................... 155 4.3 Summary of Significance Analysis .................................................................................... 155 5.0 COMPLIANCE, CONSULTATION AND COORDINATION WITH OTHERS ................................. 157 5.1 Compliance with Other Laws and Regulations................................................................. 157 5.1.1 Permits Required for Implementation ...................................................................... 157 5.2 Consultation and Coordination with Others .................................................................... 157 5.3 Environmental Justice ...................................................................................................... 158 5.4 Public Review and Comments .......................................................................................... 158 5.5 List of Contributors ........................................................................................................... 158 6.0 REFERENCES CITED ................................................................................................................ 181 7.0 APPENDICES .......................................................................................................................... 196 7.1 Appendix A: List of State Parks and Congressionally Reserved Natural Areas excluded from critical habitat designation. ..................................................................................................... 198 7.2 Appendix B: Weblink to Dunk et al. 2012 ......................................................................... 202 7.3 Appendix C: Weblink to Appendix C of the 2011 Revised
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