What Happened
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) is proposing to change rules associated with habitat conservation plans (HCPs), candidate conservation agreements with assurances (CCAAs), and safe harbor agreements (SHAs) under Section 10 of the Endangered Species Act (ESA). USFWS wants to increase the use of these voluntary conservation and compliance tools by simplifying and clarifying the process and documentation.
Why It Matters
- The proposed rule changes will affect future incidental take permits and enhancement of survival permits, not existing permits.
- USFWS plans to clarify the application of CCAAs and SHAs and combine these tools into one planning document, known as a “conservation benefit agreement.”
- USFWS plans to provide additional flexibility for HCPs to issue permits covering non-listed species.
- USFWS will revise requirements for complete permit applications by codifying parts of current policy guidance on biological goals and objectives, monitoring, and adaptive management.
- USFWS plans to clarify that these permits authorize take of species but does not authorize the specific action that causes take.
- USFWS plans to clarify that it can add terms and conditions to permits that may include additional conservation measures, monitoring and reporting requirements, and permit duration limits.
These new regulations could encourage additional public involvement…
