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1996 FWOC
Resolution
No. 12:
PLUM CREEK HABITAT CONSERVATION PLAN
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The concept of using
Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) as a means of assisting in the recovery
of endangered species is valid. However, the HCP of the Plum
Creek Timber Company for the Plum Creek area (located in the Cascade
Mountains of Washington), which was approved by the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service (as well as the National Marine Fisheries Service), is
seriously flawed. These agencies erred in approving this
HCP. The following are deficiencies with the HCP that need to be
corrected:
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A. There is a lack
of specified riparian protection on 1000 miles of intermittent streams,
some of which have running water during most of the year
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B. The Plan fails to
factor wildland fires into the habitat calculations
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C. There will be
dramatic reductions in nesting habitat for spotted owls
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D. Reduction and
fragmentation of late-successional forests will be a result
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E. The blanket
coverage of species is not even listed in the HCP
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F. There are flaws
in the Plan's prediction models and gaps in data that will compound
uncertainty for wildfire, when projected for the next 50 years
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G. The Plum Creek
Timber Company should NOT be relieved of any obligations for mitigating
the impacts of its logging beyond what is expected in the HCP
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H. Expecting the
public to pay for any additional habitat protection required is a
serious deficiency
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The Federation of Western
Outdoor Clubs requests the Plum Creek Timber Company to propose
amendments to the submitted (and approved) HCP, which will address and
correct the deficiencies cited above.
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The above-mentioned
federal agencies should monitor the performance of the Plum Creek
Timber Company to ensure that all of the requirements of the amended
HCP (as finally proposed) are fulfilled.
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Federation members and Member Clubs with
an interest in ensuring that Habitat Conservation Plans are developed
and implemented to ensure maximum protection of the wildlands and
wildlife are requested to write the Plum Creek Timber Company (address
to be provided) asking for action on the Company's part to upgrade the
HCP to correct the deficiencies, as noted in an accompanying copy of
the above Resolution. Copies of such correspondence should also
be sent to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the U.S. Marine
Fisheries Service, per the Listing at the end of these Resolutions.
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