Associated Biological Opinion
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[Cover Page of BiOp] Biological Opinion Addressing Fish and Wildlife Service Approval of the Kaua‘i Island Seabird Habitat Conservation Plan and Qualifying Incidental Take Permit Applications Subject to Site-specific Participant-Inclusion-Plans May 17, 2020 (01EPIF00-2020-F-0180) TABLE OF CONTENTS CONSULTATION HISTORY ....................................................................................................2 BIOLOGICAL OPINION ...........................................................................................................5 DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOSED ACTION ........................................................................5 Artificial Lighting at Facilities ....................................................................................................7 Conservation Measures at Applicant Facilities ...........................................................................8 Recovery and Release of Downed Seabirds .................................................................................9 Implementation of Outreach and Training ................................................................................. 10 Predator Control at Applicant Facilities ..................................................................................... 11 Conservation Activities in Kalalau Valley ................................................................................. 11 Conservation Activities at the Kahuama‘a Seabird Preserve ..................................................... 16 Adaptive Management ............................................................................................................... 22 Best Management Practices and Avoidance and Minimization Measures at Mitigation Sites ..... 23 Action Area............................................................................................................................... 23 Analytical Framework for the Jeopardy and Adverse Modification Analyses ............................ 25 Jeopardy Analysis ..................................................................................................................... 25 STATUS OF THE SPECIES ..................................................................................................... 26 ENVIRONMENTAL BASELINE ............................................................................................. 50 EFFECTS OF THE ACTION .................................................................................................... 56 CUMULATIVE EFFECTS ....................................................................................................... 82 CONCLUSION ......................................................................................................................... 83 INCIDENTAL TAKE STATEMENT ....................................................................................... 87 Amount or Extent of Take Anticipated ...................................................................................... 87 Effect of Take ........................................................................................................................... 88 Reasonable and Prudent Measures and Terms and Conditions ................................................... 88 CONSERVATION RECOMMENDATIONS ........................................................................... 88 REINITIATION-CLOSING STATEMENT .............................................................................. 88 LITERATURE CITED ............................................................................................................. 90 APPENDIX A: Informal Consultation Findings for the Proposed KSHCP and Associated PIPs. ............................................................................................................................................... 104 United States Department of the Interior FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE Pacific Islands Fish and Wildlife Office 300 Ala Moana Boulevard, Room 3-122 Honolulu, Hawai‘i 96850 In Reply Refer To: May 17, 2020 01EPIF00-2020-F-0180 Memorandum To: Assistant Regional Director-Ecological Services Portland, Oregon From: Field Supervisor, Pacific Islands Fish and Wildlife Office Honolulu, Hawaiʻi Subject: Biological Opinion Addressing U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) Approval of the Kaua‘i Island Seabird Habitat Conservation Plan (KSHCP) and Qualifying Applications for Endangered Species Act (ESA) Incidental Take Permits (ITPs) for Site-specific Participant-Inclusion-Plans (PIPs) This document transmits the Service’s biological opinion (BiOp) regarding the subject actions. At issue are the effects of the KSHCP and the PIPs on the threatened Newell’s shearwater (Puffinus auricularis newelli), the endangered Hawaiian petrel (Pterodroma sandwichensis), and the endangered Hawai‘i population distinct population segment (DPS) of the band-rumped storm-petrel (Oceanodroma castro) (hereafter band-rumped storm-petrel), collectively referred to as the Covered Species. This BiOp was prepared in accordance with section 7 of the ESA of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). The Service has determined that the issuance of ITPs and implementation of the KSHCP at Applicant facilities is not likely to adversely affect (NLAA) the federally threatened Central North Pacific distinct population segment (DPS) of the green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) (hereafter green sea turtle). INTERIOR REGION 9 INTERIOR REGION 12 COLUMBIA–PACIFIC NORTHWEST Pacific Islands Idaho, Montana*, Oregon*, Washington American Samoa, Guam, Hawaii, Northern *PARTIAL Mariana Islands 2 We have also determined that the proposed KSHCP at the Kahuama‘a Seabird Preserve may affect but is not likely to adversely affect the following listed species: endangered ‘akeke‘e (Loxops caeruleirostris), threatened ‘i‘iwi (Drepanis coccinea) (collectively referred to as Hawaiian forest birds); endangered Hawaiian hoary bat (Lasiurus cinereus semotus); and the following endangered plants: Chamaesyce eleanoriae, Chamaesyce remyi var. remyi, Dubautia kalalauensis, Euphorbia haeleeleana, Exocarpos luteolus, Euphorbia remyi var. remyi, Gouania meyenii, Hibiscadelphus woodii, Labordia helleri, Lysimachia scopulensis, Melicope pallida, Melicope puberula, Myrsine knudsenii, Myrsine linearifolia, Nothocestrum peltatum, Plantago princeps, Platydesma rostrata, Poa mannii, Poa siphonoglossa, Polyscias flynnii, Psychotria grandiflora, Pteralyxia kauaiensis, Remya kauaiensis, Remya montgomeryi, Schiedea attenuata, Schiedea kauaiensis, Schiedea membranacea, Solanum sandwicense, Stenogyne campanulata, Stenogyne kealiae, and Tetraplasandra flynii (collectively referred to as Hawaiian plants). Lastly, we have determined that the proposed KSHCP at the Kahuama‘a Seabird Preserve may affect, but is not likely to adversely affect the above listed species and the following designated critical habitat units that occur within or adjacent to the action area: Kauaʻi 11—Euphorbia haeleeleana—b, Kauaʻi 11—Exocarpos luteolus—c, Kauaʻi 11—Exocarpos luteolus—e, Kauaʻi 11—Flueggea neowawraea—a, Kauaʻi 11—Gouania meyenii—b, Kauaʻi 11—Melicope pallida—b, Kauaʻi 11—Myrsine linearifolia—e, Kauaʻi 11—Nothocestrum peltatum—c, Kauaʻi 11—Plantago princeps—b, Kauaʻi 11—Poa mannii—d, Kauaʻi 11—Poa siphonoglossa—a, Kauaʻi 11—Pteralyxia Kauaiensis—e, Kauaʻi 11—Remya Kauaiensis—b, Kauaʻi 11—Remya montgomeryi—c, Kauaʻi 11—Schiedea Kauaiensis—b, Kauaʻi 11—Schiedea membranacea—b, Kauaʻi 11—Solanum sandwicense—a, Kauaʻi 11—Stenogyne campanulata—a, Kaua‘i Ecosystem—Dry Cliff—Unit 1, and Kaua‘i Ecosystem—Montane Wet—Unit 2, Loxops caeruleirostris Unit 5—Montane Wet, Oreomystis bairdi Unit 5—Montane Wet, and Drosophila sharpi Unit 5—Montane Wet (collectively referred to as designated critical habitats). The above NLAA determinations are presented in Appendix A. This BiOp is based on information provided in: (1) the KSHCP and associated Appendices; (2) the PIPs submitted by applicants in support of ITP applications; (3) the Environmental Assessment (EA) addressing the subject actions; and (4) other sources of information cited herein. A complete decision for this consultation is on file in our office. Our log number for this consultation is 01EPIF00-2020-F-0180. CONSULTATION HISTORY The Service has been working with prospective ITP applicants regarding the subject HCP for over a decade to facilitate the conservation and management, in part, of Kaua‘i seabirds. A chronology of these efforts is presented below. June 4, 2019 – The Service and the State of Hawai‘i Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) received a PIP and ITP application from the County of Kaua‘i. 3 June 7, 2019 – The Service emailed prospective ITP applicants a reference document to rely on when completing the Federal permit application. June 19, 2019 – The Service sent an email to the group of prospective Applicants requesting submittal of outstanding PIPs, Federal ITP application forms, and a revised Appendix G of the KSHCP expressing their commitments to participate in the KSHCP. July 2, 2019 – The Service received an email from the attorney representing Alexander & Baldwin indicating it would be at least 30 days before their submittal of an ITP application and PIP. July 11, 2019 – The State of Hawai‘i Department of Transportation (HDOT) submitted their Federal ITP application and PIP. July 12, 2019 – The Service sent an email to prospective applicants updating the Service’s anticipated timeline for the Federal public review process. In that email, the Service requested