Authorizations Under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act for Take of Eagles; Proposed rule.

In anticipation of possible removal (delisting) of the bald eagle from the List of Threatened and Endangered Wildlife under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ("we" or "the Service") is proposing new permit regulations to authorize the take of bald and golden eagles under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act (Eagle Act), generally where the take to be authorized is associated with otherwise lawful activities. Second, we are proposing regulatory provisions to provide take authorization under the Eagle Act to ESA section 10 permittees who continue to operate in full compliance with the terms and conditions of their existing permits. Additionally, these proposed permit regulations would establish permit provisions for intentional take of eagle nests in rare cases where their location poses a risk to human safety or to the eagles themselves.