This proposal supports the conservation needs and endangered species act (ESA) compliance requirements for eight BAT species all of which are currently listed and or included in the revised 2024…

This Project Grant award from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service under the Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund (CFDA 15.615) provides $1,333,333.34 to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FFWCC) to support the development of a Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) for eight endangered bat species. The key products and services to be delivered under this grant include ongoing HCP planning and coordination, preparation of the first and second administrative HCP drafts, and responses to comments from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and seven state wildlife agencies. This comprehensive, landscape-scale HCP will allow for large-scale systematic conservation of the covered bat species, which have been significantly impacted by White Nose Syndrome and face risks from Duke Energy's vegetation management, operations, and construction activities. Once complete, the HCP will streamline the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's review of Duke Energy's ongoing and proposed activities to ensure Endangered Species Act compliance across the seven-state region.

This proposal supports the conservation needs and endangered species act (ESA) compliance requirements for eight BAT species all of which are currently listed and or included in the revised 2024 cooperative endangered species conservation fund at risk species list. The eight BAT species include the indiana BAT (myotis sodalis) gray BAT (myotis grisescens) northern long eared BAT (myotis septentrionalis) little brown BAT (myotis lucifugus) tricolored BAT (perimyotis subflavus) virginia long eared BAT (corynorhinus townsendii virginianus) florida bonneted BAT (eumops floridanus) and hoary BAT (lasiurus cinereus). These BAT species occur within the service territory for duke energy (applicant) across portions of seven states in the midwest and south (indiana ohio kentucky tennessee north carolina south carolina and florida). Five of the eight BAT species have been severely affected by white nose syndrome (WNS) that has caused widespread BAT mortalities and steep population declines in hibernating BAT species.although not a primary threat to these species forest vegetation management activities other operations and maintenance (o m) and construction performed to maintain duke energys electric and natural gas distribution networks have the potential for incidental take of bats. Vegetation management along duke energys extensive network of rights of way for electrical and natural gas transmission and distribution is a primary driver for the proposed BAT habitat conservation plan (HCP). The HCP would allow for large scale systematic conservation of eight BAT species in a manner that comprehensively assesses species needs and leverages information gathering mitigation and monitoring. Given the extensive geography addressed by this planning effort landscape scale solutions will benefit the species relative to piecemeal actions. A programmatic conservation plan for bats will provide a structured and coordinated approach to address specific threats facing BAT populations including disease loss of maternity colonies and risks to hibernacula. By combining research monitoring habitat protection and outreach the HCP aims to preserve BAT species promote their ecological roles and support long term recovery from WNS. The system wide HCP provides a vehicle for USFWS to evaluate forest vegetation management other o m activities and limited construction activities holistically to ensure ESA compliance that is consistent across regions but tailored to the local ecology environmental conditions and landuse patterns. Once in place the HCP will streamline USFWS review of ongoing and proposed activities rather than evaluating scores of activities on a case by case basis. Duke energy is currently evaluating approximately 300 miles of facilities per week and screening work via the USFWS decision key approximately 20% of jobs indicate some potential to affect BAT habitat. Based on current and potential future listings duke energy would need to submit dozens of consultations to USFWS each year without the HCP.work under this grant includes ongoing HCP planning and coordination between duke energy USFWS and state wildlife agencies the preparation of the first and second administrative HCP drafts and responses to comments from USFWS and seven state wildlife agencies. These activities will subsequently result in a completed HCP document and an incidental take permit application. In terms of benefits a multiple region BAT HCP provides duke energy and USFWS with a long term program that systematically addresses conservation needs for the covered species provides regulatory assurances for the permittee promotes ESA compliance and enables regulatory streamlining and consistency for the USFWS between multiple field offices and two regional offices.