|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| FWS seeks input on developing bat plan for Indiana wind facility |
|
|
|
FOWLER, Ind. — The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) will host an open house June 7 to gather comments and answer questions about development of a Habitat Conservation Plan for the Fowler Ridge Wind Energy Facility in Benton County.
The open house will be from 6-9 p.m. at the Benton County Government Annex located at 410 S. Adeway, Suite A, in Fowler. Representatives from the FWS and from BP Wind Energy will be present to answer questions about the planning effort and hear ideas and opinions about potential impacts of the facility on the endangered Indiana bat. The Indiana bat is protected under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).
BP Wind Energy, Sempra Generation and Dominion Energy are working with the FWS to develop a Habitat Conservation Plan to address possible impacts to the bat. The plan will describe the wind energy facilities, natural resources and measures the Fowler Ridge facility will implement to protect and conserve bats.
Such a plan would include measures for long-term conservation of Indiana bats and will be used by Fowler Ridge Wind Farm LLC, Fowler Ridge Wind Farm II LLC, Fowler Ridge Wind Farm III LLC and Fowler Ridge Wind Farm IV LLC to apply for a FWS permit to exempt an otherwise lawful activity (operation of a wind energy facility) from the prohibition of take under the ESA. “Take,” under the Act, means harming, harassing or killing endangered or threatened species.
As part of the FWS review, it will prepare an Environmental Impact Statement evaluating effects of the project. It encourages participation in the open house to solicit information on issues, concerns or other information that should be considered in the statement. The forum will also serve as an opportunity to identify or provide information on historic or cultural resources that should be considered in the assessment.
The Fowler Ridge Wind Energy Facility includes 355 wind turbines in Benton County, with plans for additional turbines. Two occurrences of Indiana bat mortality have been discovered and reported by the facility during routine surveys. The Indiana bat was listed as endangered in 1967, under the precursor to the current ESA, because of large population declines believed to be from disturbance of caves where bats hibernate during the winter.
For more information on the Indiana bat and habitat conservation plans, visit the FWS website at www.fws.gov/endangered |
| 6/2/2011 |
|
|
|
|
