Habitat Conservation Plan for Indiana Bat
Buckeye Wind Power Project - Federal Register Notice of Intent
PDF Version
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service [FWS–R3–ES–2009–N263; 30120–1113–0000–F6]
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants;
Indiana Bat; 30-Day Scoping Period for a National Environmental Policy Act Decision on
a Proposed Habitat Conservation Plan and Incidental Take Permit
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of intent to conduct a 30-day scoping period for a National
Environmental Policy Act decision on a
proposed habitat conservation plan and
incidental take permit; request for
comments.
SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service (Service), intend to
prepare a National Environmental
Policy Act (NEPA) document for a
decision on a proposed habitat
conservation plan (HCP) and incidental
take permit (ITP) for the Indiana bat
(Myotis sodalis) at a wind power project
in Champaign County, Ohio. We
provide this notice to advise other
agencies, tribes, and the public of our
intentions, and to obtain suggestions
and information on the scope of the
NEPA review and issues to consider in
the planning process. We are also using
this opportunity to seek comments on the appropriate level of NEPA review,
and whether an Environmental
Assessment (EA) or an Environmental
Impact Statement (EIS) would be the
appropriate level.
DATES: To ensure consideration, please
send your written comments by March
1, 2010.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
by one of the following methods:
U.S. mail or hand-delivery:
Ms.
Megan Seymour,
U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service,
Ohio Field Office,
4625 Morse
Rd., Suite 104,
Columbus, OH 43230;
E-mail: EverPowerHCP@fws.gov;
or
Fax: (614) 416–8994 (Attention:
Megan Seymour).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms.
Megan Seymour at (614) 416–8993,
extension 16. Individuals who are
hearing-impaired or speech-impaired
may call the Federal Relay Service at
(800) 877–8337 for TTY assistance.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Public Comments
We request data, comments, new
information, or suggestions from the
public, other concerned governmental
agencies, the scientific community,
Tribes, industry, or any other interested
party on this notice. We will consider
all comments we receive in complying
with the requirements of NEPA and in
the development of an HCP and ITP. We
particularly seek comments concerning:
(1) Biological information concerning
the Indiana bat;
(2) Relevant data concerning wind
power and bat interactions;
(3) Additional information concerning
the range, distribution, population size,
and population trends of the Indiana
bat;
(4) Current or planned activities in the
subject area and their possible impacts
on the Indiana bat;
(5) The presence of facilities within
the project area which are eligible to be
listed on the National Register of
Historic Places or whether other
historical, archeological, or traditional
cultural properties may be present;
(6) The appropriate level of NEPA
review, specifically whether
development of an Environmental
Assessment
(7) Identification of any other
environmental issues that we should
consider with regard to the proposed
development and permit action.
You may submit your comments and
materials considering this notice by one
of the methods listed in the ADDRESSES
section.
Comments and materials we receive,
as well as supporting documentation we
use in preparing the NEPA document,
will be available for public inspection
by appointment, during normal business
hours, at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, Ohio Field Office (see FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT). You
may obtain copies of this notice by mail
from the Ohio Field Office, or on the
Internet at: http://www.fws.gov/
midwest/Endangered/permits/hcp/
r3hcps.html.
Background
The Indiana bat was added to the list
of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife
and Plants on March 11, 1967 (32 FR
4001). It is currently listed as an
endangered species under the
Endangered Species Act of 1973, as
amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.; ESA). The population decline of this species is
attributed to habitat loss and
degradation of both winter hibernation
habitat and summer roosting habitat,
human disturbance during hibernation,
and possibly pesticides. An additional
and emerging threat to Indiana bats is
White-Nose Syndrome (Geomyces
destructans), a recently discovered
fungus that invades the skin of bats,
causing ulcers that may alter
hibernation arousal patterns, and which
can cause emaciation. The range of the
Indiana bat includes much of the
eastern United States, and Ohio is
located within the core maternity range
of the bat. Winter habitat for the Indiana
bat includes caves and mines that
support high humidity and cool but
stable temperatures. In the summer,
Indiana bats roost under the loose bark
of dead or dying trees. During summer,
males roost alone or in small groups,
while females and their offspring roost
in larger groups of 100 or more. Indiana
bats forage for insects in and along the
edges of forested areas and wooded
stream corridors. Maternity colonies of
Indiana bats have recently been detected
in Champaign County, Ohio, though no
Indiana bat hibernacula have been
documented in this county.
EverPower Wind Holdings, Inc. is
planning the development of a wind
power project in Champaign County,
Ohio. The project would be spread
across 80,370 acres within portions of
Union, Wayne, Urbana, Salem, Rush,
and Goshen Townships. Development of
the wind power project would include
installation of up to 100 wind turbines
and associated collection lines, access
roads, utility lines, substations,
operation and maintenance facility
buildings, and temporary staging areas
and concrete batch plants. The wind
turbine hub height would be
approximately 100 meters (m), and the
rotor diameter would be approximately
100 m, for an approximate total height
of 150 m at the rotor apex. Installation
of each individual turbine will
temporarily impact an area of
approximately 2.9 acres, while the final
footprint of each turbine will be
approximately 0.2 acres. Access roads to
the turbines will have a temporary
width of up to 55 feet during
construction, and a permanent width of
16–20 feet. Despite the relatively small
acreage of land to be affected by the
project, impacts to wildlife—
particularly birds and bats—are
anticipated.
The project is located in a rural
setting, with the landscape primarily
composed of agricultural properties.
Woodlots are scattered throughout the
project area. Several small towns
(Mutual and Cable) occur within the
project area, and individual homes and
low-density residential areas are also
scattered throughout.
EverPower Wind Holdings, Inc., in
conjunction with the Service, has
determined that take of Indiana bats is
likely to occur from development of the
proposed wind power project. To
authorize take, EverPower Wind
Holdings, Inc. plans to develop an HCP
and request issuance of an ITP from the
Service. Relevant information provided
in response to this notice will aid in
developing the HCP and NEPA
document, and potentially the ITP,
should take be authorized.
At this point, the Service has not
developed any alternatives for the NEPA
document. Any preferred alternative
developed by the Service will contain
various measures to avoid and minimize
impacts to Indiana bats, including the
impact of lethal take. Various methods
that may be considered include, but are
not limited to: Protection of roost trees
and surrounding habitat, set-back
distances from known roost trees,
mapping and avoidance of foraging
areas, protection and enhancement of
Indiana bat habitat outside the project
area, removal of small woodlots near
turbines to preclude expansion of
Indiana bat usage near turbines, various
curtailment regimes for turbines during
prime activity or migration periods, and
post-construction monitoring for
fatalities.
Authority
We furnish this notice under NEPA
regulations (40 CFR 1501.7 and
1508.22). The intent of the notice is to
enable us to obtain suggestions and
additional information from other
agencies and the public on the scope of
issues to be considered.
Dated: December 21, 2009.
Lynn M. Lewis, Assistant Regional Director, Ecological Services, Region 3, Fort Snelling, MN.
[FR Doc. 2010–1810 Filed 1–28–10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–55–P
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