The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announces the availability of a draft Environmental Impact Statement evaluating a proposed multi-species, multi-state draft Habitat Conservation Plan and application for an incidental take permit under the Endangered Species Act. The HCP was developed by NiSource Inc., a natural gas distribution company, as it seeks an incidental take permit for operating and maintaining its network of pipelines in 14 northeastern, Midwest and southeastern states.
The Endangered Species Act requires an approved Habitat Conservation Plan before an incidental take permit is granted. HCPs are agreements between a landowner and the Service, allowing landowners to undertake otherwise lawful activities on their property that may result in the incidental death, injury or harassment of a listed species; the landowner agrees to conservation measures designed to minimize and mitigate the impact of those actions.
In its draft EIS, the Service evaluated the possible environmental impacts of implementing NiSource’s Habitat Conservation Plan and the potential effects of granting an incidental take permit under the Endangered Species Act.
