The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announces availability of the final environmental impact statement on an application for incidental take of threatened and endangered species at select wind facilities operated by MidAmerican Energy Company in Iowa. The documents are expected to publish in the Federal Register Monday October 7, 2019, under docket number FWS-R3-ES-2018-0037.
The Service developed the environmental impact statement to evaluate the effects of authorizing incidental take of federally protected species, including bats and bald eagles, at MidAmerican Energy Company’s wind facilities in Iowa. Intentional take (harming, harassing, killing) is prohibited by the Endangered Species Act; incidental take may be allowed under provisions of an incidental take permit. Such permits may be issued when applicants develop an approved habitat conservation plan to address impacts to affected species.
MidAmerican Energy Company requested a permit for incidental take of federally endangered Indiana bat, federally threatened northern long-eared bat, federally protected bald eagle, the little brown bat, and tricolored bat. As part of its application, the company developed a habitat conservation plan that outlines measures to minimize impacts to these covered species, and actions that will mitigate for any loss of these species at its covered wind facilities.
Measures to lessen impacts to bats and bald eagles include adjusting operations of wind turbines at night during peak bat activity during the year to avoid collisions with bats; conducting landowner education; and removing carrion near wind turbines that may attract bald eagles. MidAmerican will also conduct fatality monitoring and adaptive management to ensure measures are effective.
To mitigate for any loss of bald eagles or covered bat species at its turbines, MidAmerican will protect and restore priority habitat and sponsor toxic substance abatement and eagle rehabilitation programs. Funding will be provided for monitoring and mitigation of mitigation lands and for conservation activities to benefit the covered species.
Learn more about the final environmental impact state and habitat conservation plan. A record of decision will be signed no sooner than November 6, 2019.
