Environment

Progress for county's Habitat Conservation Plan

County wants feedback on environmental impact statement

Posted

Thurston County is hosting two upcoming public comment sessions to gather feedback on the county’s Habitat Conservation Plan, which will be under review by the U.S. Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Thurston County officials announced in a press release that the federal review of the county’s plan is a milestone in the county’s plan to protect its local endangered species.

The first meeting will be held virtually from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday Oct. 26. The public Zoom link is https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86768293569, and the passcode is 932545. You can also dial in at 253-215-8782. The webinar ID is 867 6829 3569 and the passcode is 932545.

The second meeting will also be held virtually from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday Oct. 28.  The public Zoom link is https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83530202275, and the passcode is 633751. You can also dial in at 253-215-8782. The webinar ID is 835 3020 2275 and the passcode is 633751.

You can also mail written comments to Senior Planner Christina Chaput at:
Community Planning and Economic Development Department
Attention: Christina Chaput, Senior Planner
Thurston County Courthouse, Building 1, 2000 Lakeridge Dr. SW, Olympia, WA 98502. 

The county’s Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) is formed to adhere to the federal Endangered Species Act. This act has some effects on how county building permits are issued, if someone is seeking to build in an area where one of these species lives. The HCP describes how species will be protected and plans to ensure long-term survival of the species.

“This effort is to reduce and streamline the regulatory burden on County property owners, and to provide them with regulatory certainty,” reads the county website. 

The review by the U.S. Department of Fish and Wildlife was announced today. The review is required to be completed within one year. The next immediate step county and federal officials must take is gathering community feedback. At the two sessions, citizens are invited to learn more about the review process and provide feedback. That feedback will be used to create an Environmental Impact Statement. 

environmental impact statement, public meeting, habitat conservation, community feedback

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