The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is seeking public comment on a request by NiSource to add the northern long-eared bat to its multi-species, multi-state incidental take permit under the Endangered Species Act. The northern long-eared bat is proposed for listing under the Act.
Under the Endangered Species Act, it is illegal to take federally endangered or threatened species without a permit. Take includes killing, harming or harassing a listed species. NiSource’s current incidental take permit was issued in 2013 and covers 10 endangered and threatened species.
The Endangered Species Act requires an approved habitat conservation plan before an incidental take permit is granted. Habitat conservation plans are agreements between a landowner or private company and the Service, allowing permit applicants to undertake otherwise lawful activities on their property that may result in the incidental death, injury or harassment of a federally endangered or threatened species; the applicant agrees to conservation measures designed to minimize and mitigate the impact of those actions.
As part of the process to amend its permit, NiSource has submitted a revised habitat conservation plan that outlines measures the company will take to avoid and minimize take of the bat during operation and maintenance of its natural gas pipeline network in 14 states in the South, Midwest and Northeast. In addition, the revised plan includes measures for projects that compensate for any take of bats over the 49-year life of the permit. Northern long-eared bats are found in all 14 states covered by the permit.
The Service has developed a draft environmental assessment to evaluate the possible impacts of implementing NiSource’s amended habitat conservation plan and the potential effects of adding the northern long-eared bat to NiSource’s current incidental take permit under the Endangered Species Act.
NiSource’s amended habitat conservation plan and the Service’s draft environmental assessment, as well as information about the NiSource permit and HCP, are available at www.fws.gov/midwest/endangered/permits/hcp/nisource/.
You may comment on the amended plan and draft environmental assessment by one of the following methods:
(1) Electronically: You may email your comments to permitsR3ES@fws.gov
(2) By hard copy: Submit by U.S. mail or hand-delivery to:
Regional Director, Midwest Region
Attn: Thomas Magnuson
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
5600 American Blvd. West, Suite 990
Bloomington, MN 55437-1458
Comments must be received by April 20, 2015.
The northern long-eared bat was proposed for listing under the Endangered Species Act in October 2013 primarily due to steep declines caused by white-nose syndrome, a deadly disease affecting cave-hibernating bats. The Service will make a final determination on whether to list the northern long-eared bat by April 2, 2015. More information on the Service’s proposal to list the bat is available at www.fws.gov/midwest/nleb
