Builders may soon be able to develop with a mind to Mazama pocket gophers and other federally endangered species through channels provided by Thurston County directly, instead of needing to seek federal permits.
Officials from Thurston County and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service this week announced the release of the final environmental impact statement (EIS) on the county’s habitat conservation plan (HCP).
The county’s HCP was developed to support wildlife conservation and a local permit process that would meet federal Endangered Species Act requirements for county permit applicants.
The EIS evaluates impacts on the community that could result from implementing the plan, with consideration to issues such as traffic, noise, utilities and resource allocation, as well as air and water quality.
According to a press release, the EIS’s release is the last step before the Fish and Wildlife decides whether to approve the county’s HCP and issue an Incidental Take Permit (ITP) to the county, which would remove the current requirement for most builders to get federal permits for local building projects affecting species covered by the plan, although they would still need county permits.
The HCP details how the county will locally manage habitat protection when permitting building projects that impact federally protected Mazama pocket gophers and other species. The final EIS looks at how the HCP may affect the community if it is implemented.
Fish and Wildlife expects to announce its final decision on the county’s HCP and application for a federal permit no sooner than 30 days after the final EIS’s formal submittal, which is expected to happen in the coming weeks.
“The County wants this federal permit (ITP) so people in our community won’t have (to) go to the federal government for a local building permit,” said Thurston County Commission Chair Carolina Mejia in the release. “It will streamline the permit process, keep decisions local, and help us meet federal conservation requirements.”
The HCP describes how several species listed or being considered for listing under the federal Endangered Species Act will be protected and how potential impacts on these species would be mitigated.
“The publication of the final EIS is an important step, and we look forward to issuing a decision on Thurston County’s permit request in the coming weeks,” said Brad Thompson, state supervisor for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, in the release.
The Thurston County HCP and final EIS are available online at www.fws.gov/wafwo.
Learn more about the county’s HCP at www.ThurstonHCP.org.
