Project Reviews in Virginia

Step 6a - Eagle Nests

The bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) is protected by the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act (Eagle Act).  Follow the steps below to determine if an Eagle Act permit may be necessary.  The Eagle Act protects both bald and golden eagles from take and disturbance. Under some circumstances the Eagle Act may allow take of bald and golden eagles with a permit.  The bald eagle nesting (breeding) season in Virginia is from December 15 through July 15.

(A). Determine if the action area intersects with a bald eagle nest buffer.  The Center for Conservation Biology VaEagles Nest Locator provides the locations of active bald eagle nests in Virginia.

(NOTE: For projects that have blasting or other loud noise components, the buffer distance around eagle nests and concentration areas is 2,640 feet or up to 5,280 feet in open areas. Refer to the National Bald Eagle Management Guidelines.)

1. If the action area is not within 660 feet of a bald eagle nest, add "bald eagle" to the species/resource name column and add “unlikely to disturb nesting bald eagles” to the conclusion column in the species conclusions table.  Print the VaEagles Map and add it to the project review package.  Continue to Step 6B.
   
   
2. If the action area is within 660 feet of a bald eagle nest, determine whether the proposed action may disturb the nesting eagle by following the steps in the Service's Region 5 bald eagle management guidelines and conservation measures web review process.  Provide the nestcode (e.g., nest identifier JC0905) from VaEagles website in the notes/documentation column of the species conclusion table.

   (a). If you are able to implement the recommendations in the guidelines, add "bald eagle" to the species/resource name column and add “unlikely to disturb nesting bald eagles” to the conclusion column in the species conclusions table.  Document recommendations you adopted to avoid disturbance in the notes/documentation column of the species conclusions table, and add any additional documents/documentation to the project review package.  Continue to Step 6B.

   (b). If you are unable to implement the recommendations in the guidelines, add "bald eagle" to the species/resource name column and add “may disturb nesting bald eagles” to the conclusion column in the species conclusions table.  Provide an explanation of why the recommendations cannot be implemented in the notes/documentation column of the species conclusions table, and add this to the project review package. Continue to Step 6B.

Project Reviews
Step 1 - Action Area
Step 2 - Official Species List
Step 3 - State Coordination
Step 4 - Suitable Habitat
Step 5 - Critical Habitat
Step 6a - Eagle Nests
Step 6b - Eagle Concentration Areas
Step 7 - Determinations
Step 8 - Project Review Package

Endangered Species
- Species in Virginia
- Species by County/City
- Species of Concern
- Species Fact Sheets

Critical Habitat
- What is it ?
- Critical Habitat Mapper

Permits & HCPs
- Endangered Species Permits
- Warren Co. Power Station Low Effect HCP

General Info
- Plants and the ESA
- Bald Eagle Information
- Mussel Guidelines

Communication Towers
- Service Guidance on the Siting, Construction, Operation and Decommissioning of Communication Towers

Surveys/Habitat Assessments
- Approved Surveyors (for federally listed species & karst geology in Virginia)

- How to be a Surveyor

- Optimal Survey Times: PLANTS

- How long is an ANIMAL survey valid?

- How long is a PLANT survey valid?