A Notice of Availability for the Tumwater Operations and Maintenance Facility Habitat Conservation Plan for the threatened Olympia subspecies of the Mazama pocket gopher (Thomomys mazama pugetensis) in Tumwater, Washington and a draft Environmental Action Statement are now available.
Publication in the Federal Register on Tuesday, September 17, will open up a 30-day public comment period. Read the Federal Register notice.
The Service received an application from the City of Tumwater Transportation and Engineering Department for an incidental take permit for the construction of the Tumwater Operations and Maintenance Facility, an adjacent city park, and a roundabout at the intersection of Old Highway 99 SE and 79th Ave SE in Tumwater, Washington.
The applicant anticipates impacting up to 8.6 acres of occupied Olympia pocket gopher habitat that exists in the permit area and proposes to mitigate take through the purchase of credits representing 8.6 acres of suitable habitat permanently conserved and managed for Olympia pocket gopher at the Deschutes Corridor conservation site.
See the Habitat Conservation Plan
See the Environmental Action Statement
See the Federal Register notice
Comments can also be submitted via U.S. mail to:
Public Comments Processing, Attn: Docket No. FWS-R1-ES-2024-0119
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Headquarters, MS: PRB/3W
5275 Leesburg Pike
Falls Church, VA 22041–3803
