I would think birders would have an interest in the information below.

Vicci Weeks 

 

From: Mitchell, Kim [mailto:[log in to unmask]] 
Sent: Thursday, April 14, 2016 1:34 PM
To: undisclosed-recipients:
Subject: Midwest Wind Eneregy Draft Multi-species HCP and Draft EIS Available for Public Review and Comment

 

Dear Interested Party:

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) is announcing that the draft Multi-Species Habitat Conservation Plan (MSHCP) and the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for that MSHCP (Draft EIS) are available for public review and comment. The announcement will be made in the April 15, 2016 Federal Register, which opens a 90-day public comment period. We will accept comments on the MSHCP and Draft EIS through July 14, 2016. 

 

Some wildlife species potentially affected by wind energy development are federally-listed as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Incidental Take Permits, under section 10 of the ESA, allow take of listed species. To obtain a permit, a Habitat Conservation Plan must be prepared, which specifically identifies how incidental take will be avoided, minimized, and mitigated. The MSHCP provides the information necessary to support future Incidental Take Permit applications for wind energy development in the Midwest. 

 

The Draft EIS, prepared in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act, analyzes the potential environmental effects of issuing Endangered Species Act Incidental Take Permits and implementing the MSHCP. The Draft EIS contains an analysis of four alternatives: Proposed Action (Proposed MSHCP Alternative); Reduced Permit Duration Alternative; Increased Cut-In Speed Alternative; and No Action Alternative (no permit issuance).

 

The MSHCP and Draft EIS are now available on the project website at www.midwestwindenergyhcpeis.org <http://www.midwestwindenergyhcpeis.org>  and will be available, on or after April 15, on the Federal eRulemaking Portal at: http://www.regulations.gov/ (Docket Number FWS-R3-ES-2015-0033). Hard copies of the Draft EIS and MSHCP will also be available for public inspection by appointment, during normal business hours, at the Service’s Midwest Regional Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 5600 American Blvd. West, Suite 990, Bloomington, MN 55437-1458.

 

Publication of the Notice of Availability in the Federal Register marks the start of the 90-day public comment period that ends July 14, 2016. The Service invites comments and suggestions from all interested parties on the content of the Draft EIS and MSHCP. We request that comments be as specific as possible. In particular, information and comments regarding the following topics are requested:

*       The direct, indirect, or cumulative effects that implementation of any alternative could have on the human environment;
*       Whether or not the impact on various aspects of the human environment has been adequately analyzed; and
*       Any other information pertinent to evaluating the effects of the proposed action on the human environment.

Please specify whether your comment addresses the Draft EIS, the MSHCP, both the Draft EIS and MSHCP, or other supporting documents. You may submit written comments by one of the following methods:

 

*         Electronically: On or after April 15, 2016, go to the Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. In the Search box, enter FWS-R3-ES-2015-0033, which is the docket number for this notice. Then, on the left side of the screen, under the Document Type heading, click on the Notices link to locate this document and submit a comment.

 

*         By hard copy: Submit by U.S. mail or hand-delivery to: Regional Director, Attn: Rick Amidon, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Ecological Services, 5600 American Blvd. West, Suite 990, Bloomington, MN 55437-1458.

 

       Additionally, during the public comment period, the Service will host two online webinars to provide more information about the project. The webinar dates have not been determined at this time. Information on how to participate in the webinars will be provided on the project website at http://www.midwestwindenergyhcpeis.org.

 

       For information about the Midwest Wind Multi-species HCP and endangered species in the Midwest you may also visit our website at www.fws.gov/midwest/endangered <http://www.fws.gov/midwest/endangered> .

 

      If you have any questions, please contact Rick Amidon (Phone: 612-713-5164 – Email: [log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]> ).

 

Thank you

 

Kim Mitchell

Ecological Services

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

5600 American Blvd. East, Suite 990

Bloomington, MN 55437

612-713-5337

 

 <mailto:[log in to unmask]> [log in to unmask]

 <http://www.fws.gov/midwest/endangered> www.fws.gov/midwest/endangered

**My work schedule is Mon. to Thursday 7:30 to 4:00 (Central)**

 


______________________________________________________________________

Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society.
Please consider joining our Society, at www.ohiobirds.org/site/membership.php.
Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list.


You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at:
listserv.miamioh.edu/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=OHIO-BIRDS
Send questions or comments about the list to: [log in to unmask]