The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) is seeking public comments for their development of a proposed rule establishing objectives, measurable performance standards and criteria for species conservation banking, consistent with the Endangered Species Act (ESA).
“We share an interest with the regulated community in introducing greater efficiency and predictability into species conservation banking, while ensuring conservation of our most imperiled fish, wildlife and their habitats,” said USFWS Director Martha Williams.
The agency’s conservation banking program comprises over 160 banks in more than a dozen states, covers more than 50 species listed under the ESA and conserves more than 250,000 acres.
Under a new, proposed rule, USFWS plans to focus on conservation banking programs for ESA-listed, proposed and candidate species. The rule will clarify the agency’s intent to “apply equivalent standards and criteria to all forms of compensatory mitigation, including conservation banks, in-lieu fee programs and permittee-responsible mitigation, for the covered species,” the agency said.
The proposed rule will not modify any of USFWS’ existing authorities for recommending or requiring mitigation.
Public comments will be accepted until Sept. 26. Comments may be submitted at regulations.gov by searching for docket number FWS-HQ-ES-2021-0137 or may be mailed to Public Comments Processing, Attn: Docket No. FWS-HQ-ES-2021-0137; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; MS: PRB/3W; 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041-3803. — Anna Miller,WLJ managing editor
