Draft Environmental Assessment and Proposed Habitat Conservation Plan; Receipt of an Application for an Incidental Take Permit; Alliant Energy, Iowa and Minnesota

Issuing agencies

Abstract

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), have received an application from Alliant Energy's Interstate Power and Light Company and Wisconsin Power and Light Company (Alliant; applicant), for an incidental take permit (ITP) under the Endangered Species Act, for wind facilities in Iowa and Minnesota (project). The applicant requests the ITP for the take of four bat species incidental to the otherwise lawful activities associated with the project. The applicant proposes a conservation program to minimize and mitigate for the unavoidable incidental take as described in their habitat conservation plan (HCP). The Service requests public comment on the application, which includes the applicant's proposed HCP, and the Service's draft environmental assessment, prepared pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act. The Service provides this notice to seek comments from the public and Federal, Tribal, State, and local governments.