The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service have jointly issued a proposed rule to amend regulations under 50 CFR 402 regarding interagency cooperation under the Endangered Species Act. The proposal would revise the Section 7 consultation process, including elimination of the need for federal agencies to consult with FWS or NMFS on construction projects deemed to have no adverse impact on threatened species. The proposal also would also prevent federal agencies from tying global warming emissions directly to the deterioration of any species. Comments are due Sept. 15, 2008. For more information, link to the Federal Register notice. (8-15-08)

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The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services has issued a draft environmental assessment for a proposed program to issue permits under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act for the “take” of eagles, or activities that may disturb eagles, require nest removal, or result in the death of a bird. The draft environmental assessment, which is required under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), describes the biological foundation for the permit program, examines its impacts within the context of all threats to eagles, and proposes upper limits on takings of eagles. Comments are due Sept. 15, 2008. For more information, link to the Federal Register notice and the agency’s Bald and Golden Eagle website. (8-14-08)

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The Transportation Research Board’s National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) has issued Report 615: Evaluation of the Use and Effectiveness of Wildlife Crossings. The report details the development of an interactive, web-based decision guide protocol for the selection, configuration, and location of wildlife crossings.  For more information, link to NCHRP Report 615. The decision tool as outlined in the report can be found on the Center for Environmental Excellence by AASHTO website by linking to Evaluation of the Use and Effectiveness of Wildlife Crossings. (8-7-08)

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The Western Governors’ Association has published a new report on its Wildlife Corridors Initiative to protect wildlife migration corridors and critical habitats in the West. The June 2008 report announces the establishment of the Western Wildlife Habitat Council to identify key wildlife corridors and crucial habitats and to coordinate policy options and tools for preservation. The report also compiles work performed by the six working groups established under the initiative in the areas of science, energy, land use, oil and gas, climate change, and transportation. For more information, link to the WGA Wildlife Corridors Initiative June 2008 Report. (6-29-08)

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The Environmental Protection Agency has issued a report that identifies strategies for reducing the potential impact of climate change on estuaries, forests, wetlands, coral reefs, and other ecosystems. The document is the final report of the U.S. Climate Change Science Program’s  Synthesis and Assessment Product 4.4: Adaptation Options for Climate-Sensitive Ecosystems and Resources. The report finds that climate change can increase the impact of traditional stressors such as pollution or habitat destruction on ecosystems and that existing best management practices for reducing those stressors can also be applied to climate change impacts. While the report focuses on adaptation options for ecosystems and resources on federally owned and managed lands, it is also applicable to resources managed by other government or nongovernmental organizations. For more information, link to Preliminary Review of Adaptation Options for Climate-Sensitive Ecosystems and Resources. (6-20-08)

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The Defenders of Wildlife has published a report intended to help guide prospective grant applicants through the federal transportation enhancements (TE) funding process. The report highlights the 10^th anniversary of TE Activity 11, which was added in 1998 under the Transportation Equity Act for the 21^st Century (TEA-21) to fund environmental mitigation efforts that address water pollution from highway runoff or reducing vehicle-wildlife collisions while maintaining habitat connectivity. The report finds that eligibility for TE Activity 11 projects “has gone largely unnoticed by wildlife conservation professions”. According to the report, if each of the 12 eligible TE activities received equal federal funding, then $61 million per year would be available for wildlife projects. The report also provides tips and sample applications for TE funding, describes the application and selection process, cites lessons learned by applicants, provides a list of all wildlife-related TE projects, and summarizes notable efforts in a “TE Activity 11 Hall of Fame”. For more information, link to The $61 Million Question: How Can Transportation Enhancements Benefit Wildlife? (6-19-08)

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A report published by the Defenders of Wildlife summarizes key findings of a national symposium held in September 2007 on reducing the impact of global warming on America’s wildlife. The symposium convened three panels of experts from the scientific, wildlife management, and policy communities that recommended steps to help wildlife survive climate change in this century. The report includes panel presentations, discussions, and key recommendations, such as building the resilience of natural systems through existing conservation practices; developing predictive modeling as a management tool; investing in small-scale, reversible pilot projects; instituting an adaptive management approach; and adopting a national strategy to address global warming impacts on wildlife. For more information, link to Reducing the Impact of Global Warming on Wildlife: The Science, Management and Policy Challenges Ahead. (5-13-08)

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The Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, in cooperation with the Wildlife Management Institute and seven national hunting and fishing membership organizations, has released a report describing potential impacts to fish and wildlife habitat from climate change. The report includes findings on predicted impacts to waterfowl, freshwater fish, big game, upland game, and saltwater fish. For more information, link to Season’s End: Global Warming’s Threat to Hunting and Fishing. (4-10-08)

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The Western Governors’ Association is requesting comments on a series of draft reports on impacts to wildlife migration corridors and habitat in the western United States. In February 2007 WGA approved a resolution (07-01) directing it to identify key wildlife migration corridors and crucial habitat in the West and recommend policy options and tools for preservation. In response WGA launched the Wildlife Corridor Initiative to promote best practices for development, reduce harmful impacts on wildlife, and integrate migratory and crucial habitat into planning decisions. WGA working groups have developed draft reports containing policy recommendations in five subject areas: Energy; Transportation; Land Use; Climate Change; and Science. The reports will be presented at the June 2008 WGA Annual Meeting. Comments are due April 17, 2008. For more information, link to WGA Wildlife Corridor Initiative webpage. (4-8-08)

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A report published by the Environmental Law Institute and the Environmental Defense Fund examines the potential for habitat banking – including wetland mitigation banking, conservation banking, and other banking systems – to contribute to conservation of priority wildlife habitat identified in state wildlife action plans. The report includes recommendations on how to use existing habitat banking programs, establish new banks under existing authorities, or launch new banking systems and provides general recommendations for advancing the use of banking for wildlife conservation. For more information, link to Design of U.S. Habitat Banking Systems to Support the Conservation of Wildlife Habitat and At-Risk Species. (February 2008)

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 A report summarizing research on the use and effectiveness of wildlife crossings to mitigate habitat fragmentation and reduce wildlife vehicle collisions has been issued by the National Cooperative Highway Research Program under Project 25-27. The report provides guidelines for the selection, configuration, and location of wildlife crossing types and suggestions for the monitoring and evaluation of their effectiveness and maintenance. An Internet-based interactive decision guide also is available. For more information, link to the final report, Evaluation of the Use and Effectiveness of Wildlife Crossings, and the online decision guide and resource tool, Wildlife and Roads: A Resource to Help Mitigate Roads for Wildlife (now on the Center for Environmental Excellence by AASHTO website). (2-21-08)

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The Transportation Research Board has published 22 peer-reviewed papers that address various environmental issues in its Transportation Research Record Journal, Issue No. 2011. The papers cover diverse subjects including efforts by departments of transportation to develop environmental management systems, vehicle emissions modeling, air quality benefits of freeway high-occupancy vehicle lanes in southern California, use of highway underpasses for large mammals and other wildlife, and others. For more information, link to TRB’s Environmental Issues 2007. (1-18-08)

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A new online database of ecological assessment methods has been developed through a cooperative agreement between the National Park Service and George Mason University. The searchable database includes peer-reviewed methods suitable for a range of resource settings and applications and guidance documents addressing key classification systems, sampling protocol, or methods critiques. For more information, link to the Ecological Assessment Methods Database. (1-23-08)

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The Southern Rockies Ecosystem Project has announced a field course on wildlife crossings in Washington State. The course is to be held from June 2-4, 2008, and is intended as a forum information sharing on the planning, design and construction of wildlife crossings. The course will be held at Snoqualmie Pass, the site of a major planned transportation and wildlife crossings project on Interstate 90. For more information, link to Washington Wildlife Crossings Field Course. (12/20/07)

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A new report issued by the Environmental Law Institute, estimates that private and public expenditures for compensation of impacts to fish and wildlife habitat and the environment under key federal programs total up to $3.8 billion annually. To access the report, link to Mitigation of Impacts to Fish and Wildlife Habitat: Estimating Costs and Identifying Opportunities. (12/21/07)

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The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service published its updated Candidate Notice of Review, a yearly appraisal of the candidate species list detailing those plants or animals that may warrant protection under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Four species have been removed from the candidate list and five species have been added to the list since the last review in September 2006. There now are 280 species currently recognized by the Service as candidates for ESA protection. The Service is soliciting public comment and additional information for candidate species, as well as information about species that should be included in future candidate updates. For more information link to the December 2007 Candidate Notice of Review; Proposed Rule. (12-6-07)

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The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is requesting comments on a new recovery credit system intended to help federal agencies carry out recovery of threatened and endangered species. Under the new system, federal agencies will be able to use credits accrued through wildlife conservation actions undertaken on non-federal lands to offset impacts of their actions on federal lands. Such credits must be used to benefit the same species for which they were accrued. A draft guidance published by FWS in the Nov. 2, 2007, Federal Register discusses the recovery credit system in detail. Comments are due Dec. 2, 2007. For more information, link to the news release and the Federal Register notice. (11-2-07)

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Defenders of Wildlife has launched a new initiative, Watch Out for Wildlife (WOW), to educate drivers on how to avoid wildlife-vehicle collisions and what to do if one occurs. The group’s new WOW website provides tips for avoiding wildlife collisions, includes a downloadable WOW glove-box reference card to keep phone numbers of state transportation and wildlife agencies in the event of a collision, and includes a fact sheet with statistics regarding U.S. wildlife-vehicle collisions. For more information, link to watchoutforwildlife.org. (10-22-07)

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The Defenders of Wildlife has released its fourth annual report profiling 10 wildlife refuges that face particularly serious examples of threats affecting the entire U.S. refuge system. The 2007 report, released to coincide with the 10-year anniversary of the passage of the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act, cites continued threats from border walls, budget cuts, invasive species, oil and gas development, road construction, water contamination, and other issues. For more information, link to Refuges at Risk. (10-4-07)

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A report released by the Montana DOT evaluates how wildlife crossing structures and fencing on U.S. Highway 93 in northwestern Montana affect the frequency of animal-vehicles collisions and animal highway crossings. The report also describes a case study of the decision-making processes for design of mitigation measures and identifies best management practices and areas for further research. For more information, link to Evaluation of Wildlife Crossing Structures and Fencing on U.S. Highway 93 Evaro to Polson. (9-17-07)  

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The Congressional Research Service has published an updated report that discusses oversight issues and legislation introduced in the 110^th Congress concerning the Endangered Species Act. The report, which is updated periodically to reflect recent legislative action, addresses issues related to how ESA is implemented and how endangered species are managed. For more information, link to The Endangered Species Act (ESA) in the 110th Congress: Conflicting Values and Difficult Choices. (7-13-07)

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The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is requesting proposals from states and U.S. territories for approximately $80 million in fiscal year 2008 grants to support conservation planning activities and habitat acquisition for federally protected species. The service is soliciting proposals for three categories of grants under the Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund: recovery land acquisition grants, habitat conservation planning (HCP) assistance grants, and HCP land acquisition grants. Proposals must be submitted to FWS regional offices by Aug. 24, 2007. For more information, link to the request for proposals and the FWS Endangered Species Program Grants website. (6-25-07)

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A U.S. Forest Service report describes the process the agency must follow to comply with NEPA, ESA, and other laws and policies for road maintenance when threatened, endangered, or sensitive plants exist or are discovered. The report considers the directives, laws, misconceptions, and apparent conflicts associated with implementing road maintenance activities that may impact listed plant species. For more information, link to Road Maintenance with Threatened, Endangered, or Sensitive Plants: Finding Solutions. (5-17-07)

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The Federal Highway Administration has requested applications for a new grant program to fund pilot projects that integrate transportation and resource planning to develop ecosystem based approaches for transportation projects. The grant program has available at least $1.05 million intended to support the multi-agency initiative and guide, Eco-Logical: an Ecosystem Approach to Developing Infrastructure Projects. Applications are June 22, 2007.For more information, link to the grant announcement. (5-9-07)

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Details on programs and initiatives in 20 states that have been designated as "exemplary ecosystem initiatives" by the Federal Highway Administration were posted on the agency’s website. Launched in 2002, a total of 43 efforts now have been recognized as FHWA exemplary ecosystem initiatives. The effort is part of the agency's performance objective to increase ecosystem and habitat conservation through its programs. FHWA has set a goal to identify a minimum of 30 exemplary ecosystem initiatives in at least 20 states or Federal Lands Highway divisions by September 2007. For more information, link to FHWA’s Exemplary Ecosystem Initiatives. (4-22-07)

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The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services announced the availability of a draft revised recovery plan for the endangered Indiana bat on April 16, 2007. The agency solicited comments on recommended recovery measures for the species, including conservation and management of the caves and other underground areas where bats hibernate, known as hibernacula. The recovery measures also include an increased focus on the species’ summer habitat. In addition, the revised plan describes criteria for reclassifying the Indiana bat to ``threatened’’ status under the Endangered Species Act and for its recovery and removal from the endangered species list. Comments are due July 16, 2007. For more information, link to the announcement.

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The Ohio Department of Transportation entered into a programmatic agreement with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to streamline the review process for the endangered Indiana Bat. The agreement was finalized in January 2007 with the issuance of a biological opinion in which FWS approved a streamlined review process to address impacts to the Indiana bat for all of the state’s road projects over a 5-year period. The agreement addresses Ohio DOT’s compliance with consultation requirements for its projects under Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act. For additional information, link to the programmatic agreement and the biological opinion.

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More than $60 Million in grants to state and territorial wildlife agencies were announced by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on April 5, 2007.  The money provides funds for the State Wildlife Grants program. All states and U.S. territories receive funds under the program to implement state wildlife action plans to help conserve species. The plans “provide a nationwide blueprint of actions to conserve imperiled species and prevent them from becoming threatened or endangered,” the agency said. The action plans are a key tool that can be used in transportation planning to address potential wildlife impacts. For more information, link to FWS’ State Wildlife Grant Program. For information on state plans, link to http://www.teaming.com/wildlife_state.htm.

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