Proposed Programmatic Statewide Red-Cockaded Woodpecker Safe Harbor Agreement, Louisiana

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This notice advises the public that the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF or Applicant) has applied to the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) for an enhancement of survival permit pursuant to section 10(a)(1)(A) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act) (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). The permit application includes a proposed Safe Harbor Agreement (Agreement) for the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker, (Picoides borealis) (RCW), for a period of 99 years. If approved, the Agreement would allow the Applicant to issue Certificates of Inclusion (CI) throughout the State of Louisiana to eligible non-Federal landowners that complete an approved Safe Harbor Management Agreement (SHMA). We announce the opening of a 30-day comment period and request comments from the public on the Applicant's permit application, the accompanying proposed Agreement, and the supporting Environmental Assessment. The Environmental Assessment identifies and describes several alternatives. All comments received, including names and addresses, will become part of the official administrative record and may be made available to the public, subject to the requirements of the Privacy Act a