Application for Enhancement of Survival Permit and Proposed Candidate Conservation Agreement With Assurances for the New England Cottontail; Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife

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The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (MDIFW) has applied to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) for an Enhancement of Survival Permit under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA), as amended. The requested permit would authorize take of the New England cottontail (NEC) resulting from certain habitat improvement and land use activities, should the species be listed as endangered or threatened in the future. The permit application includes a proposed Candidate Conservation Agreement with Assurances (CCAA) between the MDIFW and the Service. In accordance with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), we have prepared a draft categorical exclusion of the impacts of the requested permit. We are accepting comments on the permit application, proposed CCAA, and draft NEPA document.