Endangered Species Permits- Habitat Conservation Planning Handbook

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Endangered Species Permits | Habitat Conservation Plans | Safe Harbor Agreements
Candidate Conservation Agreements with Assurances | Non-Traditional Agreements
ES Permits, Planning and Conservation Agreements Home Page | Region 3 ES Home Page

Habitat Conservation Planning Handbook

The Habitat Conservation Planning Handbook (Handbook) was finalized in November, 1996, providing the first comprehensive HCP program guidance. An addendum to the Handbook, released June, 2000, supplements information in the Handbook and provides additional guidance in the areas of biological goals and objectives, adaptive management, monitoring, permit duration, and public participation. Nothing in the Handbook or addendum is intended to supersede or alter any aspect of Federal law or regulation pertaining to the conservation of threatened or endangered species.

Cover Page, Table of Contents, Preface
Chapter 1 The ESA and incidental take permits
Chapter 2 Overview of FWS and NMFS roles
Chapter 3 Pre-application coordination and HCP development
Chapters 4-5 Treatment of unlisted species / environmental analysis and documentation
Chapter 6 Application requirements and processing procedure
Chapters 7-8 Issuance criteria for incidental take permits / definitions
Appendix 1 Announcement of implementation of Incidental Take Permit provision of the ESA, from the Federal Register
Appendix 2 Reference list of publications on HCPs and Conservation Biology
Appendix 3 Example of an HCP Memorandum of Understanding
Appendix 4 “Template” implementing agreement
Appendix 5 FWS guidance on addressing migratory birds and eagles
Appendix 6 FWS guidance on integrating HCPs with National Wildlife Refuges
Appendix 7 Safe Harbor Policy
Appendix 8 Example of an integrated HCP/EA
Appendix 9 (incomplete)
Appendix 10 General permit conditions (from CFR)
Appendix 11 Endangered and threatened species permit conditions (from CFR)
Appendix 12 FWS and NMFS Regional Offices
Appendix 13 (not currently available on-line)
Appendix 14 (not currently available on-line)
Appendix 15 FWS Federal fish and wildlife permit
Appendix 16 Examples of received applications and NEPA document availability notices from the Federal Register
Appendix 17 Examples of issued Incidental Take Permits
Appendix 18 “Template” Federal Register Notice of Permit Issuance

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service