Availability of a Proposed Safe Harbor Agreement for Five Species of Birds in Kauai, Maui, HI, and Honolulu Counties, HI

Zusammenfassung

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (we, the Service) has received applications for enhancement of survival permits pursuant to section 10(a)(1)(A) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA), from four Resource Conservation and Development councils (RC&Ds, Applicants) in the State of Hawaii: Garden Island RC&D, Kauai County; Tri-Isle RC&D, Maui County; Big Island RC&D, Hawaii County; and Oahu RC&D, Honolulu County. The permit applications include a proposed programmatic Safe Harbor Agreement (SHA) between the Applicants and the Service. The proposed SHA provides for voluntary habitat restoration, maintenance, enhancement, or creation activities to enhance the habitat and recovery of Hawaiian goose (Branta sandvicensis), Hawaiian duck (Anas wyvilliana), Hawaiian moorhen (Gallinula chloropus sandvicensis), Hawaiian coot (Fulica alai), and Hawaiian stilt (Himantopus mexicanus knudseni) (collectively "Covered Species") on non-Federal lands in the State of Hawaii. The proposed duration of both the SHA and permits is 50 years. The Service believes that the proposed SHA and permit applications may be eligible for categorical exclusion under the National Environmental Policy Ac