Standard Protocol Upon Discovery of Injured Birds and Bats

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Standard Protocol Upon Discovery of Injured Birds and Bats NA PUA MAKANI WIND ENERGY PROJECT DRAFT HABITAT CONSERVATION PLAN Prepared for Na Pua Makani Power Partners, LLC Prepared by February 2015 TTCES-PTLD-2015-009 DRAFT HABITAT CONSERVATION PLAN This page intentionally left blank DRAFT HABITAT CONSERVATION PLAN Table of Contents 1 INTRODUCTION AND PROJECT OVERVIEW ............................................................................... 1 1.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Applicant History and Information ............................................................................................... 1 1.3 Project Description ........................................................................................................................ 4 1.3.1 Project History ...................................................................................................................... 4 1.3.2 Project Components .............................................................................................................. 4 1.3.3 Project Schedule .................................................................................................................... 8 1.3.4 List of Preparers .................................................................................................................... 8 1.4 Regulatory Framework and Relationship to Other Plans, Policies, and Laws .............................. 8 1.4.1 Federal Endangered Species Act ........................................................................................... 8 1.4.2 National Environmental Policy Act ...................................................................................... 9 1.4.3 Migratory Bird Treaty Act .................................................................................................. 10 1.4.4 National Historic Preservation Act ..................................................................................... 10 1.4.5 Hawaii Revised Statutes (HRS Chapter 195D) ................................................................... 10 1.4.6 Hawaii Revised Statutes (HRS Chapter 343) ...................................................................... 11 2 DESCRIPTION OF THE HABITAT CONSERVATION PLAN ...................................................... 11 2.1 Purpose and Need for the HCP ................................................................................................... 11 2.2 Scope and Term .......................................................................................................................... 12 2.2.1 HCP Scope .......................................................................................................................... 12 2.2.2 HCP Term ........................................................................................................................... 12 2.3 Surveys and Resources................................................................................................................ 12 3 ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING ........................................................................................................ 13 3.1 Regional Location ....................................................................................................................... 13 3.2 Land Use Designations ............................................................................................................... 13 3.3 Topography and Geology............................................................................................................ 13 3.4 Soils............................................................................................................................................. 13 3.5 Hydrology and Water Resources ................................................................................................ 15 3.6 Terrestrial Flora .......................................................................................................................... 15 3.7 Non-Listed Wildlife .................................................................................................................... 15 3.8 Listed Wildlife ............................................................................................................................ 16 3.8.1 Hawaiian Hoary Bat ............................................................................................................ 17 Na Pua Makani Wind Energy Project i DRAFT HABITAT CONSERVATION PLAN 3.8.2 Newell’s Shearwater ........................................................................................................... 19 3.8.3 Hawaiian Goose .................................................................................................................. 25 3.8.4 Waterbirds ........................................................................................................................... 26 3.8.5 Hawaiian Short-eared Owl .................................................................................................. 35 3.8.6 Species Considered but Excluded ....................................................................................... 37 4 GOALS AND CONSERVATION MEASURES ............................................................................... 38 4.1 Biological Goals and Objectives ................................................................................................. 38 4.1.1 Goals ................................................................................................................................... 38 4.1.2 Objectives ........................................................................................................................... 38 4.2 Avoidance and Minimization of Impacts .................................................................................... 39 4.2.1 Project Components and Siting Considerations .................................................................. 39 4.2.2 General Project Development Measures ............................................................................. 40 5 ASSESSMENT OF POTENTIAL IMPACTS AND TAKE LIMITS ................................................ 41 5.1 Hawaiian Hoary bat .................................................................................................................... 41 5.1.1 Direct Take .......................................................................................................................... 41 5.1.2 Indirect Take ....................................................................................................................... 42 5.1.3 Authorized Take Request for ITP and ITL ......................................................................... 43 5.1.4 Assessment of Population-Level Impacts ........................................................................... 44 5.2 Newell’s Shearwater ................................................................................................................... 45 5.2.1 Direct Take .......................................................................................................................... 45 5.2.2 Indirect Take ....................................................................................................................... 47 5.2.3 Authorized Take Request for the ITP and ITL ................................................................... 47 5.2.4 Assessment of Population-Level Impacts ........................................................................... 48 5.3 Hawaiian Goose .......................................................................................................................... 48 5.3.1 Direct Take .......................................................................................................................... 48 5.3.2 Indirect Take ....................................................................................................................... 49 5.3.3 Authorized Take Request for ITP and ITL ......................................................................... 50 5.3.4 Assessment of Population-Level Impacts ........................................................................... 50 5.4 Waterbirds (Hawaiian Duck, Hawaiian Stilt, Hawaiian Coot, Hawaiian Moorhen) .................. 51 5.4.1 Direct Take .......................................................................................................................... 51 5.4.2 Indirect Take ....................................................................................................................... 52 5.4.3 Authorized Take Request for the ITP and ITL ................................................................... 52 5.4.4 Assessment of Population-Level Impacts ........................................................................... 52 Na Pua Makani Wind Energy Project ii DRAFT HABITAT CONSERVATION PLAN 5.5 Hawaiian Short-eared Owl .......................................................................................................... 52 5.5.1 Direct Take .......................................................................................................................... 52 5.5.2 Indirect Take ....................................................................................................................... 53 5.5.3 Authorized Take Request for the ITP and ITL ................................................................... 54 5.5.4 Assessment of Population-Level Impacts
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