Request for Comments on U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Draft Wind and Energy Guidelines and Draft Eagle Conservation Plan Guidance

United States Department of the Interior

BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT

Arizona State Office

One North Central Avenue, Suite 800

Phoenix, Arizona  85004-4427

 

In Reply Refer To:

6500 (9320) P

 

EMS TRANSMISSION  04/01/2011

Instruction Memorandum No. AZ-2011-015

Expires:  09/30/2012     EXPIRED

 

To:                  District Managers and Field Managers

 

From:              Deputy State Director, Division of Resources

 

Subject:           Request for Comments on U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Draft Wind and Energy Guidelines and Draft Eagle Conservation Plan Guidance

DD:  4/22/2011

Purpose:  The purpose of this Instructional Memorandum (IM) is to solicit review and comments from the District and Field Offices on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) Draft Wind Energy Guidelines and Draft Eagle Conservation Plan Guidance.  The FWS is seeking specific comments on the guidelines and eagle guidance, website content, and the appendices.  When considering the Land-based Wind Energy Guidelines, consider the following questions in your comments. 

 

(1) The approach, utility, consistency, detail, and scientific validity of the draft Land-based Wind Energy Guidelines (Guidelines).

 

(2) Use of the Guidelines as regulatory for wind facility development on all Federal lands. At a minimum, regulatory for all U.S. Department of the Interior jurisdictional lands where commercial wind projects are being/might be constructed (e.g., National Wildlife Refuges, Bureau of Land Management and National Park Service lands).

 

(3) Use of the draft Guidelines, once finalized, as regulatory versus voluntary on all lands, public and private.

 

When considering the Eagle Conservation Plan Guidance, consider the following questions in your comments. 

 

(1) How could the Guidance better address issues related to wind power development?

 

(2) Comments on the substance of the Guidance, particularly on Advanced Conservation Practices, compensatory mitigation, and new or expanded definitions.

 

(3) What additional requirements may be necessary to ensure that wind energy programmatic permits comply with the Eagle Act?

 

(4) Should the Guidance be voluntary or mandatory?

 

(5) If the Guidance should not be binding in their entirety, which provisions should be binding?

 

Policy/Action:  District and Field Offices are directed to review and submit consolidated comments to Elroy Masters, Fish and Wildlife Program Lead, Arizona State Office.  The State Office will consolidate all comment for one State submittal to the Washington office by

April 29, 2011.  The draft documents can be found at: 

 

Land- Based Wind Energy Guidelines can be found at:

 

The Draft Eagle Conservation Plan Guidance document can be found at:

http://www.fws.gov/windenergy/eagle_guidance.html 

 

Timeframe:  The deadline for responding to this request is April 22, 2011. 

 

Background:  See attached Washington Office IM 2011-084 for additional background information. 

 

Manual/Handbook Sections Affected:  None

 

Contact:  Elroy Masters, Fish and Wildlife Program Lead, Arizona State Office (AZ9320) at 602-417-9346.

 

 

1 Attachment

1 - WO IM 2011-084- Request for Comments on Fish and Wildlife Service Draft Wind Energy Guidelines and Draft Eagle Conservation Plan Guidance