[Federal Register: January 29, 2010 (Volume 75, Number 19)]
[Notices]
[Page 4840-4842]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr29ja10-95]
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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.
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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
[[Page 4841]]
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 (EA) or an Environmental
Impact Statement (EIS) would be appropriate; and
(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.
[[Page 4842]]
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