The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is seeking public comment on a draft environmental assessment (EA) and habitat conservation plan (HCP) for the Bitter Ridge Wind Farm in Jay County, Indiana. The draft HCP accompanies an Endangered Species Act (ESA) permit application by Bitter Ridge Wind Farm, LLC for limited, unintentional take of the endangered Indiana bat and threatened northern long-eared bat as a result of normal operation of the company’s wind energy facility. The HCP outlines measures the company would take for long-term conservation of both bat species if the Service approves the permit.
“Under the ESA, it is illegal to kill, harm or harass federally endangered or threatened species – even unintentionally – without a permit,” said Lori Nordstrom, Assistant Regional Director for the Service’s Great Lakes Region. “As required by the ESA, the Bitter Ridge Wind Farm HCP includes measures the facility would carry out to avoid, minimize and mitigate incidental take of the two bat species. Some of those measures include modifying operation of the turbines at night during spring and fall migration seasons and protecting existing summer roosting and fall swarming bat habitat.”
Habitat conservation plans are agreements between the Service and a landowner, private company or non-federal agency allowing them to undertake otherwise lawful activities on their property that may result in the incidental take of a federally endangered or threatened species. Permit applicants must minimize and mitigate the impact of the incidental take caused by their actions.
If approved, the Bitter Ridge Wind Farm HCP would address incidental take that results from operating the company’s 52 wind turbines in Jay Country for 35 years. The permit would authorize incidental take of up to 69 Indiana bats and up to 45 northern long-eared bats over the life of the permit.
Draft documents may be reviewed at www.regulations.gov under docket number FWS–R3–ES–2020–0121. Public comments regarding the Bitter Ridge Wind Farm draft habitat conservation plan and environmental assessment can be submitted by the following methods:
- Online: Submit comments at http://www.regulations.gov under docket number FWS–R3–ES–2020–0121.
- By hard copy: Submit comments by U.S. mail to Public Comments Processing, Attn: Docket No. FWS–R3–ES–2020–0121; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; 5275 Leesburg Pike, MS: JAO/lN; Falls Church, VA 22041–3803.
Please specify whether your comment addresses the draft HCP, EA or any combination of these or other supporting documents. The public comment period will be open for 30 days through April 28, 2021.
Get additional information about habitat conservation plans.
