HONOLULU, Hawaii — Today, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced the availability of a record of decision for the Na Pua Makani Wind Energy Project on Oahu. Na Pua Makani Power Partners, LLC applied to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for an incidental take permit under section 10(a)(1)(B) of the Endangered Species Act for the wind energy project. The Service evaluated the impacts of the project and the permitting decision, as required by both the ESA and the National Environmental Policy Act, and has issued a permit.
In addition to the wind energy project covered by the permit, a habitat conservation plan will be implemented by the applicant. Habitat conservation plans are agreements between the Service and a landowner, private company, or non-federal agency and ensure that harmful effects to threatened and endangered species are minimized or offset. Some of those measures for the Na Pua Makani Wind Energy Project include funding research to support conservation management, fencing and predator control, and forest restoration.
Species covered under the permit will be the focus for the actions in the HCP. They include the threatened
‘A‘o (Newell’s shearwater) and endangered Ae‘o (Hawaiian stilt), ‘Alae ke‘oke‘o (Hawaiian coot), ‘Alae ‘ula (Hawaiian moorhen), Koloa maoli (Hawaiian duck), Nēnē (Hawaiian goose), and ‘Ope‘ape‘a (Hawaiian hoary bat).
The information in the record of decision is based on the permit application, the HCP, the associated Final and Supplemental Environmental Impact Statements and their associated public comments, and other information in the administrative record. The record of decision can be found at: https://www.federalregister.gov/ or https://www.fws.gov/pacificislands/
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The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service works with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. For more information, visit www.fws.gov/pacific, or connect with us through any of these social media channels at www.facebook.com/PacificIslandsFWS, www.flickr.com/photos/usfwspacific/, www.tumblr.com/blog/usfwspacific or www.twitter.com/USFWSPacific.
