Proposed Safe Harbor Agreement With Chevron Hawaii Refinery at James Campbell Industrial Park for Management of the Hawaiian Stilt and Hawaiian Coot, Oahu, HI

The Chevron Hawaii Refinery (Chevron) has applied to the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) for an enhancement of survival permit pursuant to the Endangered Species Act, (ESA). The permit application includes a proposed Safe Harbor Agreement (Agreement) between Chevron, the Service, and the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources. The proposed Agreement and permit application are available for public comment. The proposed Agreement allows for the management of nesting and foraging habitat for the endangered Hawaiian stilt (Himantopus mexicanus knudseni) and endangered Hawaiian coot (Fulica alai) at the Chevron Hawaii Refinery. The proposed duration of the Agreement and permit is 6 years. The Service has made a preliminary determination that the proposed Agreement and permit application are eligible for categorical exclusion under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969. We explain the basis for this determination in an Environmental Action Statement, which is also available for public review.