HCPs in Development
NiSource Habitat Conservation Plan

Environmental Impact Statement
Scoping and Public Involvement Process

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service intends to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on NiSource Inc.'s proposal to apply for an Incidental Take Permit under the Endangered Species Act.  The Incidental Take Permit may include multiple federally listed threatened and endangered species across 17 States and may cover NiSource operations, maintenance, construction, and emergency response activities associated with the company’s interstate natural gas transmission and storage business.

On October 11, 2007, the Service published in the Federal Register a Notice of Intent to prepare an EIS to

(1) describe the proposed action and possible alternatives;
(2) advise other Federal and State agencies, potentially affected tribal interests, and the public of our intent to prepare an EIS;
(3) announce the start of the public scoping period; and
(4) obtain suggestions and information on the scope of issues to be included in the EIS.

We welcome your comments. To ensure consideration, your written comments must be received on or before December 8, 2007. (Although the Notice of Intent has November 30 as the end of the comment period, we will accept comments that we receive on or before December 8).  Click here for a listing of scoping meeting dates and locations.

For more information, here is the complete Notice of Intent, which includes background information.

Send your written comments or request additional information by any one of the following methods:

• U.S. Mail:  Regional Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Division of Ecological Services, 1 Federal Drive, Fort Snelling, MN 55111─4056.
• Facsimile: 612-713-5292.
• E-Mail:  http://infoman.amec.com/SIMS_PublicComment

For further information contact either Mr. Thomas Magnuson, at 612-713-5467 or tom_magnuson@fws.gov, or Mr. Forest Clark, at 812-334-4261 ext. 206 or forest_clark@fws.gov.  Additional information can be obtained by calling 1-800-247-1247 ext. 3100.

NiSource HCP NEPA Scoping Meeting Schedule

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U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service