December 8, 2010
Missouri

Fish, Wildlife Service seeking input on proposed wind farm, impact on endangered bat species

Daily Express, www.kirksvilledailyexpress.com 7 December 2010

Kirksville, Mo. – The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is hosting an open house this evening to gather input on the development of a Habitat Conservation Plan for a proposed wind energy facility near Queen City which could affect local endangered species.

Representatives from the Fish and Wildlife Service and High Prairie Wind Energy will answer questions about the planning effort and hear ideas and opinions on the potential impact of the project on the Indiana bat, the little brown bat and the northern bat.

The open house will be Tuesday from 5-7 p.m. at the Days Inn in Kirksville.

The Indiana bat is listed as an endangered species. The Habitat Conservation Plan is aimed at addressing possible effects from the project on the bat and its habitat, describing project features, natural resources and measures to be implemented to protect and conserve the bats.

The plan, once developed by High Prairie and approved the the Fish and Wildlife Service, would include measures for long-term conservation of the Indiana bat and will be used to apply for a permit exempting the potential wind farm from the prohibition of harming, harassing or killing endangered species.

The Fish and Wildlife Service wants citizen participation at the open house to solicit information and concerns or any other information that should be considered in an environmental assessment.

The proposed project will consist of wind turbine generators, transformers at the base of each turbine, access roads, a project operations and maintenance building and other infrastructure in Schuyler County.

The Indiana bat was listed as endangered in 1967 due to large population declines believed to be from disturbances to cave systems where the bats hibernate during winter. The Indiana bat is found across much of the eastern and central U.S.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2010/12/08/fish-wildlife-service-seeking-input-on-proposed-wind-farm-impact-on-endangered-bat-species/