DENVER – Today, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) is announcing the availability of a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for a disturbance permit application for a pair of bald eagles in Broomfield County, Colorado. Garrett Construction Company LLC (Garrett) applied for an eagle incidental take permit for disturbance that may occur while constructing an apartment complex from early May 2018 through late 2019. Based on our finding, the Service is issuing an eagle incidental take permit to Garrett.
This permit authorizes disturbance take for a pair of bald eagles nesting in proximity to Garrett’s housing project. The disturbance take authorization is only valid for the remainder of the 2018 bald eagle nesting season and the 2019 nesting season. The permit requires Garrett to implement several avoidance and minimization measures to reduce potential disturbance take to the pair of bald eagles during construction. Nest monitoring and reporting is also required during project construction in 2018 and 2019, plus two additional nesting seasons after construction is completed.
Incidental take of eagles is the result of unintentional disturbance, injury or loss of eagles due to otherwise lawful activities. An incidental take permit system – first under the Endangered Species Act, then the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act – has provided a way for companies or individuals to work collaboratively with the Service to lessen their potential impacts and, when required by law, to compensate for any unavoidable loss of eagles while also reducing their risk of being charged with violations of federal law. Today, Americans can enjoy seeing more bald eagles than at any time in the past 50 years. Populations, nearly extinct in the lower 48 states in the 1960s, now number at least 143,000 individuals for the United States.
The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. We are both a leader and trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for our scientific excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources, dedicated professionals, and commitment to public service.
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