Zasoby i środowisko · 19/04/2013

Final Environmental Impact Statement, Habitat Conservation Plan, and Implementing Agreement and Draft Programmatic Agreement, Buckeye Wind Power Project, Champaign County, Ohio

Under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) is advising the public of the availability of the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) associated with an application received from Buckeye Wind, LLC (Buckeye Wind, applicant) for an incidental take permit (permit) pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA). We also announce the availability of the Buckeye Wind Power Project Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP), prepared in accordance with the ESA, and the availability of a Draft Programmatic Agreement (PA) to address the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) and its implementing regulations, "Protection of Historic Properties." Buckeye Wind submitted the HCP, as well as a proposed Implementing Agreement (IA), as part of its incidental take permit application. If issued, the permit would authorize incidental take of the federally listed endangered Indiana bat (Myotis sodalis) from construction, operation, maintenance, and decommissioning associated with the Buckeye Wind Power Project. Buckeye Wind is requesting a 30-year permit term. We request comments from the public on the permit application, the HCP, the