[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 9 (Thursday, January 14, 2016)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 1900-1922]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-00617]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 17

[Docket No. FWS-R5-ES-2011-0024; 4500030113]
RIN 1018-AY98


Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; 4(d) Rule for the 
Northern Long-Eared Bat

AGENCY:  Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), finalize a 
rule under authority of section 4(d) of the Endangered Species Act of 
1973 (Act), as amended, that provides measures that are necessary and 
advisable to provide for the conservation of the northern long-eared 
bat (Myotis septentrionalis), a bat species that occurs in 37 States, 
the District of Columbia, and 13 Canadian Provinces.

DATES: This rule is effective February 16, 2016.

ADDRESSES: This final 4(d) rule, the final environmental assessment, 
biological opinion, and list of references are available on the 
Internet at http://www.regulations.gov under Docket No. FWS-R5-ES-2011-
0024 and at http://www.fws.gov/midwest/Endangered. Comments and 
materials we received, as well as supporting documentation we used in 
preparing this final 4(d) rule, are available for public inspection at 
http://www.regulations.gov, and by appointment, during normal business 
hours at: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Twin Cities Ecological 
Services Field Office, 4101 American Blvd. East, Bloomington, MN 55425; 
telephone (612) 725-3548, ext. 2201; or facsimile (612) 725-3609.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Peter Fasbender, Field Supervisor, 
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Twin Cities Ecological Services Field 
Office, 4101 American Blvd. East, Bloomington, MN 55425; telephone 
(612) 725-3548, ext. 2210; or facsimile (612) 725-3609. Persons who use 
a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal 
Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 800-877-8339.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Executive Summary

    The need for the regulatory action and how the action will meet 
that need: Consistent with section 4(d) of the Act, this final 4(d) 
rule provides measures that are tailored to our current understanding 
of the conservation needs of the northern long-eared bat.
    On April 2, 2015, we published a document that is both a final rule 
to list the northern long-eared bat as a threatened species and an an 
interim 4(d) rule to provide measures that are necessary and advisable 
to provide for the conservation of the northern long-eared bat. At that 
time, we opened a 90-day public comment period on the interim rule, and 
we committed to publish a final 4(d) rule by December 31, 2015, and to 
complete review pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA). Previously, on January 16, 2015, we published a proposed 4(d) 
rule with a 60-day public comment period. Therefore,we have had two 
comment periods totaling 150 days on two versions of the 4(d) rule.
    Statement of legal authority for the regulatory action: Under 
section 4(d) of the Act, the Secretary of the Interior has discretion 
to issue such regulations she deems necessary and advisable to provide 
for the conservation of the species. The Secretary also has the 
discretion to prohibit by regulation, with respect to a threatened 
species, any act prohibited by section 9(a)(1) of the Act.
    Summary of the major provisions of the regulatory action: This 
final species-specific 4(d) rule prohibits purposeful take of northern 
long-eared bats throughout the species' range, except in instances of 
removal of northern long-eared bats from human structures, defense of 
human life (including public health monitoring), removal of hazardous 
trees for protection of human life and property, and authorized capture 
and handling of northern long-eared bats by individuals permitted to 
conduct these same activities for other

[[Page 1901]]

bats until May 3, 2016. After May 3, 2016, individuals who wish to 
capture and handle northern long-eared bats for recovery purposes will 
need a permit pursuant to section 10(a)(1)(A) of the Act.
    Incidental take resulting from otherwise lawful activities will not 
be prohibited in areas not yet affected by white-nose syndrome (WNS). 
WNS is a fungal disease affecting many hibernating U.S. bat species. 
Ninety- to one-hundred-percent mortality has been seen in bats affected 
by the disease in the eastern United States.
    Take of northern long-eared bats in their hibernacula (which 
includes caves, mines, and other locations where bats hibernate in 
winter) is prohibited in areas affected by WNS, unless permitted under 
section 10(a)(1)(A) of the Act. Take of northern long-eared bats inside 
of hibernacula may include disturbing or disrupting hibernating 
individuals when they are present as well as the physical or other 
alteration of the hibernaculum's entrance or environment when bats are 
not present if the result of the activity will impair essential 
behavioral patterns, including sheltering northern long-eared bats.
    For northern long-eared bats outside of hibernacula, we have 
established separate prohibitions from take for activities involving 
tree removal and activities that do not involve tree removal. 
Incidental take of northern long-eared bats outside of hibernacula 
resulting from activities other than tree removal is not prohibited. 
Incidental take resulting from tree removal is prohibited if it: (1) 
Occurs within a 0.25 mile (0.4 kilometer) radius of known northern 
long-eared bat hibernacula; or (2) cuts or destroys known occupied 
maternity roost trees, or any other trees within a 150-foot (45-meter) 
radius from the known maternity tree during the pup season (June 1 
through July 31). Incidental take of northern long-eared bats as a 
result of the removal of hazardous trees for the protection of human 
life and property is also not prohibited.
    Peer review and public comment: We sought comments on our proposed 
4(d) rule from independent specialists to ensure that this rule is 
based on scientifically sound data, assumptions, and analyses. We also 
considered all comments and information we received during the comment 
periods on the proposed and interim 4(d) rules.

Previous Federal Actions

    Please refer to the proposed (78 FR 61046; October 2, 2013) and 
final (80 FR17974; April 2, 2015) listing rules for the northern long-
eared bat for a detailed description of previous Federal actions 
concerning this species. On January 16, 2015, we published a proposed 
4(d) rule (80 FR 2371) for the northern long-eared bat and on April 2, 
2015, we published an interim 4(d) rule (80 FR 17974) for this species.

Background

    The northern long-eared bat is a wide-ranging species that is found 
in a variety of forested habitats in summer and hibernates in caves, 
mines, and other locations in winter. WNS is the main threat to this 
species and has caused a precipitous decline in bat numbers (in many 
cases, 90-100 percent) where the disease has occurred. Declines in the 
numbers of northern long-eared bats are expected to continue as WNS 
extends across the species' range. For more information on the northern 
long-eared bat, its habitat, and WNS, please refer to the October 2, 
2013, proposed listing (78 FR 61046) and the April 2, 2015, final 
listing (80 FR 17974) rules.
    The Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) does not specify particular 
prohibitions, or exceptions to those prohibitions, for threatened 
species. Instead, under section 4(d) of the Act, the Secretary of the 
Interior has the discretion to issue such regulations as she deems 
necessary and advisable to provide for the conservation of such 
species. The Secretary also has the discretion to prohibit by 
regulation, with respect to any threatened wildlife species, any act 
prohibited under section 9(a)(1) of the Act with respect to endangered 
species. Exercising this discretion under section 4(d) of the Act, the 
Service developed general prohibitions (50 CFR 17.31) and exceptions to 
those prohibitions (50 CFR 17.32) under the Act that apply to most 
threatened wildlife species.
    In addition, for threatened species, under the authority of section 
4(d) of the Act, the Service may develop prohibitions and exceptions 
that are tailored to the specific conservation needs of the species. In 
such cases, some of the prohibitions and authorizations under 50 CFR 
17.31 and 17.32 may be appropriate for the species and be incorporated 
into a separate, species-specific, rule under section 4(d) of the Act. 
These rules will also include provisions that are tailored to the 
specific conservation needs of the threatened species and may be more 
or less restrictive than the general provisions at 50 CFR 17.31.

Definitions

    This final rule uses several definitions and provisions contained 
in the Act and its implementing regulations.
    The Act and its implementing regulations (50 CFR part 17) define 
take as harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture 
or collect, or to attempt to engage in any such conduct.
    The term ``harass'' (50 CFR 17.3) means an intentional or negligent 
act or omission which creates the likelihood of injury to wildlife by 
annoying it to such an extent as to significantly disrupt normal 
behavioral patterns which include, but are not limited to, breeding, 
feeding, or sheltering.
    The term ``harm'' (50 CFR 17.3) means an act which actually kills 
or injures wildlife. Such act may include significant habitat 
modification or degradation where it actually kills or injures wildlife 
by significantly impairing essential behavioral patterns, including 
breeding, feeding or sheltering.
    ``Purposeful take'' includes the capture and handling of individual 
bats. Take in this manner includes both capture and handling to remove 
bats from human structures and take that is for research purposes 
(e.g., attaching a radiotracking device). Other purposeful take would 
include intentional removal of bats from hibernacula or the intentional 
killing or harassing of bats under any circumstance.
    ``Human structures'' are defined as houses, garages, barns, sheds, 
and other buildings designed for human entry.
    ``Incidental take'' is defined at 50 CFR 17.3 as any taking 
otherwise prohibited, if such taking is incidental to, and not the 
purpose of, an otherwise lawful activity. Examples of incidental take 
(or non-purposeful take as it is sometimes referred to in this rule) 
include land-management actions, such as implementation of forestry 
practices, where bats may be harmed, harassed, or killed as a result of 
those otherwise lawful actions. The actions contemplated in this rule 
include a wide range of actions for purposes such as right-of-way 
development and maintenance, forestry, land use for development 
unrelated to wildlife management, management of lands as habitats other 
than bat habitat (e.g., prairie), energy production and transmission, 
and other activities.
    Incidental take within the context of this rule is regulated in 
distinct and separate manners relative to the geographic location of 
the activity in question. For the purposes of this rule, we have 
developed a map associated with the occurrence and spread of WNS. This 
map will be updated by the first of each month as the disease spreads 
throughout the range of the species and

[[Page 1902]]

posted at http://www.fws.gov/midwest/Endangered.
    ``Known hibernacula'' are defined as locations where northern long-
eared bats have been detected during hibernation or at the entrance 
during fall swarming or spring emergence.
    ``Known, occupied maternity roost trees'' are defined as trees that 
have had female northern long-eared bats or juvenile bats tracked to 
them or the presence of females or juveniles is known as a result of 
other methods.
    ``Tree removal'' is defined as cutting down, harvesting, 
destroying, trimming, or manipulating in any other way the trees, 
saplings, snags, or any other form of woody vegetation likely to be 
used by northern long-eared bats.

WNS Zone

    The WNS zone, as mapped, provides the boundary for the distinction 
of implementation of this rule. To estimate the area impacted by WNS, 
we have used data on the presence of the fungus causing the disease, 
called Pseudogymnoascus destructans, or Pd, or evidence of the presence 
of the disease (WNS) in the bats within a hibernaculum. Our final 
listing determination provides additional information concerning Pd and 
WNS (80 FR 17993; April 2, 2015). Confirmed evidence of infection at a 
location within a county is mapped as a positive detection for the 
entire county. In addition, we have added a 150-mile (241-kilometer 
(km)) buffer to the Pd-positive county line to account for the spread 
of the fungus from one year to the next. In instances where the 150-
mile (241-km) buffer line bisects a county, the entire county is 
included in the WNS zone.
    Over the past 5 years, an average of 96 percent of the new Pd or 
WNS counties in any single year were within 150 miles (241 km) of a 
county that was Pd- or WNS-positive in a prior year (Service 2015, 
unpublished data). Pd is generally present for a year or two before 
symptoms of WNS appear and mortality of bats begins to occur. Given the 
relatively short amount of time between detection and population-level 
impacts, it is important that we protect those buffer areas and the 
bats within them with the same regulations as those in known WNS 
positive counties. Therefore, the positive counties, plus a buffer 
around them, are the basis for the WNS zone map.

Summary Comparison of the Interim 4(d) Rule and This Final Rule

    Based on information we received in comment periods on the proposed 
and interim 4(d) rules (see Summary of Comments and Recommendations 
below), we revised the provisions of the interim 4(d) rule to better 
reflect the disproportionate effect that the disease, WNS, has had and 
will continue to have, we believe, on northern long-eared bat 
populations.
    In the interim rule, we used the term ``white-nose syndrome buffer 
zone'' to identify ``the portion of the range of the northern long-
eared bat'' within 150 miles (241 km) of the boundaries of U.S. 
counties or Canadian districts where the fungus Pseudogymnoascus 
destructans (Pd) or WNS had been detected. For purposes of 
clarification, in this final rule, we have changed the term ``white-
nose syndrome buffer zone'' to ``white-nose syndrome zone'' or ``WNS 
zone.'' And we state that the ``WNS zone'' is ``the set of counties 
within the range of the northern long-eared bat'' within 150 miles (241 
km) of the boundaries of U.S. counties or Canadian districts where Pd 
or WNS had been detected.
    The interim 4(d) rule generally applies the prohibitions of 50 CFR 
17.31 and 17.32 to the northern long-eared bat, which means that the 
interim rule, among other things, prohibits the purposeful take of 
northern long-eared bats throughout the species' range, but the interim 
rule includes exceptions to the purposeful take prohibition. The 
exceptions for purposeful take are: (1) In instances of removal of 
northern long-eared bats from human structures (if actions comply with 
all applicable State regulations); and (2) for authorized capture, 
handling, and related activities of northern long-eared bats by 
individuals permitted to conduct these same activities for other bat 
species until May 3, 2016. Under the interim rule, incidental take is 
not prohibited outside the WNS zone if the incidental take results from 
otherwise lawful activities. Inside the WNS zone, there are exceptions 
for incidental take for the following activities, subject to certain 
conditions: Implementation of forest management; maintenance and 
expansion of existing rights-of-way and transmission corridors; prairie 
management; minimal tree removal; and removal of hazardous trees for 
the protection of human life and property.
    This final 4(d) rule does not generally apply the prohibitions of 
50 CFR 17.31 to the northern long-eared bat. This rule continues to 
prohibit purposeful take of northern long-eared bats throughout the 
species' range, except in certain cases, including instances of removal 
of northern long-eared bats from human structures and for authorized 
capture, handling, and related activities of northern long-eared bats 
by individuals permitted to conduct these same activities for other bat 
species until May 3, 2016. After May 3, 2016, a permit pursuant to 
section 10(a)(1)(A) of the Act is required for the capture and handling 
of northern long-eared bats. Under this rule, incidental take is still 
not prohibited outside the WNS zone.
    We have revised the interim rule's language concerning incidental 
take inside the WNS zone. Under this final rule, within the WNS zone, 
incidental take is prohibited only if: (1) Actions result in the 
incidental take of northern long-eared bats in hibernacula; (2) actions 
result in the incidental take of northern long-eared bats by altering a 
known hibernaculum's entrance or interior environment if the alteration 
impairs an essential behavioral pattern, including sheltering northern 
long-eared bats; or (3) tree-removal activities result in the 
incidental take of northern long-eared bats when the activity either 
occurs within 0.25 mile (0.4 kilometer) of a known hibernaculum, or 
cuts or destroys known occupied maternity roost trees, or any other 
trees within a 150-foot (45-meter) radius from the maternity roost 
tree, during the pup season (June 1 through July 31). Take of northern 
long-eared bats in their hibernacula may include disturbing or 
disrupting hibernating individuals when they are in the hibernacula. 
Take of northern long-eared bat also includes the physical or other 
alteration of the hibernaculum's entrance or environment when bats are 
not present if the result of the activity will impair essential 
behavioral patterns, including sheltering northern long-eared bats. Any 
take resulting from otherwise lawful activities outside known 
hibernacula, other than tree removal, is not prohibited, as long as it 
does not change the bat's access to or quality of a known hibernaculum 
for the species. This final rule makes these revisions because, in 
areas impacted by WNS, the most important conservation actions for the 
northern long-eared bat are to protect bats in hibernacula and 
maternity roost trees, and to continue to monitor populations in summer 
habitat (e.g., identify where the species continues to survive after 
the detection of Pd or WNS and determine the factors influencing its 
resilience), while developing methods to abate WNS as quickly as 
possible.
    Under this rule, we individually set forth prohibitions on 
possession and other acts with unlawfully taken northern long-eared 
bats, and on import and export of northern long-eared bats. These 
prohibitions were included in the interim 4(d) through the general 
application of the prohibitions of 50 CFR 17.31 to the northern long-
eared bat. Under this rule, take of the northern

[[Page 1903]]

long-eared bat is also not prohibited for the following: Removal of 
hazardous trees for protection of human life and property; take in 
defense of life; and take by an employee or agent of the Service, of 
the National Marine Fisheries Service, or of a State conservation 
agency that is operating a conservation program pursuant to the terms 
of a cooperative agreement with the Service. Regarding these three 
exceptions, take in defense of life was not included in the interim 
4(d) rule, but the other two exceptions were, either through the 
general application of 50 CFR 17.31 or through a specific exception 
included in the interim 4(d) rule.

Provisions of the 4(d) Rule for the Northern Long-Eared Bat

    For a threatened species, the Act does not specify prohibitions, or 
exceptions to those prohibitions, relative to take of the species. 
Instead, under Section 4(d) of the Act, the Secretary has discretion to 
issue regulations deemed to be necessary and advisable for the 
conservation of a threatened species. By regulation, the Secretary has 
determined that take prohibitions for endangered species are also 
applicable to threatened species unless a special rule is issued under 
section 4(d) for a particular threatened species. Under this 4(d) rule, 
we have applied several of the prohibitions specified in the Act for 
endangered species and the provisions of 50 CFR 17.32 (permit 
regulations) to the northern long-eared bat as described below.
    For this 4(d) rule, the Service has completed a biological opinion 
under Section 7 of the Act on our action of finalizing this rule. In 
addition, the biological opinion provides for streamlined consultation 
for all federal agency actions that may affect the northern long-eared 
bat; therefore, the scope of the biological opinion included the 
finalization and implementation of the 4(d) rule. The biological 
opinion resulted in a non-jeopardy determination. Provided Federal 
action agencies follow the criteria outlined in this rule and implement 
the streamlined consultation process outlined in the biological 
opinion, their section 7 consultation requirements will be met. If 
unable to follow these criteria, standard section 7 procedures will 
apply.

Exceptions to the Purposeful Take Prohibition

    We have exempted the purposeful take of northern long-eared bats 
related to the protection of human health and safety. A very small 
percentage of bats may be infected with rabies or other diseases that 
can be transmissible to humans. When there is the possibility that a 
person has been exposed to a diseased bat, it is important that they 
coordinate with medical professionals (e.g., doctor, local health 
department) to determine the appropriate response. When warranted to 
protect human health and safety, we have exempted from the take 
prohibition of northern long-eared bats in defense of one's own life or 
the lives of others, including for public health monitoring purposes 
(i.e., collecting a bat after human exposure and submitting for disease 
testing).
    We have also exempted the purposeful take of northern long-eared 
bats related to removing the species from human structures, but only if 
the actions comply with all applicable State regulations. Northern 
long-eared bats have occasionally been documented roosting in human-
made structures, such as houses, barns, pavilions, sheds, cabins, and 
bat houses (Mumford and Cope 1964, p. 480; Barbour and Davis 1969, p. 
77; Cope and Humphrey 1972, p. 9; Amelon and Burhans 2006, p. 72; 
Whitaker and Mumford 2009, p. 209; Timpone et al. 2010, p. 119; Joe 
Kath 2013, pers. comm.). We conclude that the overall impact of bat 
removal from human structures is not expected to adversely affect 
conservation and recovery efforts for the species. In addition, we 
provide the following recommendations:
     Minimize use of pesticides (e.g., rodenticides) and avoid 
use of sticky traps as part of bat evictions/exclusions.
     Conduct exclusions during spring or fall unless there is a 
perceived public health concern from bats present during summer and/or 
winter.
     Contact a nuisance wildlife specialist for humane 
exclusion techniques.
    We have exempted the purposeful take that results from actions 
relating to capture, handling, and related activities for northern 
long-eared bats by individuals permitted to conduct these same 
activities for other species of bats until May 3, 2016. Under the 
interim rule, for a period of 1 year from the interim rule's effective 
date (May 3, 2016), we had exempted the purposeful take that is caused 
by the authorized capture, handling, and related activities (e.g., 
attachment of radio transmitters for tracking) of northern long-eared 
bats by individuals permitted to conduct these same activities for 
other bats. We have continued the exemption through the expiration date 
established by the interim rule. After May 3, 2016, a permit pursuant 
to section 10(a)(1)(A) of the Act is required for the capture and 
handling of northern long-eared bats,except that associated with bat 
removal from human structures. We determined that it was important to 
regulate the intentional capture and handling of northern long-eared 
bats through the Act's scientific permit process to help ensure that 
the surveyor's qualifications and methods used are adequate to protect 
individual bats and provide reliable survey results.

Incidental Take Outside of the WNS Zone Not Prohibited

    Incidental take in areas that have not yet been impacted by WNS 
(i.e., in areas outside the WNS zone) is not prohibited by this final 
rule. We believe the level of take associated with on-going land 
management and development actions, including all actions that may 
incidentally take the northern long-eared bat, do not individually or 
cumulatively affect healthy bat populations. As noted in our decision 
to list the northern long-eared bat as a threatened species, WNS is the 
primary cause of the species' decline, and we would not have listed the 
northern long-eared bat if not for the impact of WNS. In addition, we 
conclude that regulating incidental take in areas not affected by WNS 
is not expected to change the rate at which WNS progresses across the 
range of the species. In other words, regulating incidental take 
outside the WNS zone will not influence the future impact of the 
disease throughout the species' range or the status of the species. For 
these reasons, we have concluded that the prohibition of incidental 
take outside of the WNS zone is not necessary and advisable for the 
protection and recovery of the species. Incidental take, therefore, is 
not prohibited outside of the WNS zone.

Prohibitions and Exemptions Related to Incidental Take Inside the WNS 
Zone

    Our approach to designing the regulatory provisions for the 
northern long-eared bat inside the WNS zone reflects the significant 
role WNS plays as the central threat affecting the species. For other 
threatened species, habitat loss or other limiting factors usually 
contribute to the decline of a species. In these situations, 
regulations are needed to address either the habitat loss or the other 
limiting factors.
    The northern long-eared bat is not habitat-limited and has 
demonstrated a great deal of plasticity within its environment (e.g., 
living in highly fragmented forest habitats to contiguous forest blocks 
from the southern United States to Canada's Yukon Territory) in the 
absence of WNS. For the northern long-eared bat, land management and

[[Page 1904]]

development actions that have been on-going for centuries (e.g., forest 
management, forest conversion) have not been shown to have significant 
negative impacts to northern long-eared bat populations.
    As WNS continues to move across the range of the species, northern 
long-eared bat populations have declined and will continue to decline. 
Declines in northern long-eared bat populations in WNS-positive regions 
have been significant, and northern long-eared bats are now relatively 
rare on those landscapes. As populations decline as a result of WNS, 
the chances of any particular activity affecting northern long-eared 
bats becomes more remote. Therefore, in the WNS zone, we focused the 
regulatory provisions on sensitive life stages at known, occupied 
maternity roost trees and hibernacula.
    We developed regulations that provide some level of protection to 
the species where it persists in the face of WNS. However, we have 
provided flexibility so that the regulated public will seek to conserve 
the species and foster its recovery at sites where it has been lost 
should tools to address WNS become available or where the species shows 
signs of resilience. Further, because we believe recovery of this 
species will require many partnerships across the species' range, 
minimizing regulatory impacts on activities inconsequential to northern 
long-eared bat populations provides an important step in building 
partnerships for the species' recovery.
    The northern long-eared bat is a forest-dependent species, 
typically roosting in trees. In establishing regulations that are 
necessary and advisable for the conservation of the species, we have 
tailored species-specific regulatory provisions toward potential 
impacts to trees. For the incidental take of bats outside of 
hibernacula, we have specifically established two sets of provisions: 
the first set applies to activities that do not involve tree removal 
and the second applies to activities that do involve tree removal. By 
tree removal, we mean cutting down, harvesting, destroying, trimming, 
or manipulating in any other way the trees, saplings, snags, or any 
other form of woody vegetation that is likely to be used by the 
northern long-eared bat.
    In this final 4(d) rule, we have limited the prohibition of 
incidental take of northern long-eared bats to specific circumstances. 
This does not mean that all activities that could result in the 
incidental take of the northern long-eared bat will do so. The relative 
exposure of the species and the species response to a potential 
stressor are critical considerations in evaluating the potential for 
incidental take to occur. For example, under the discussion of tree 
removal, below, we describe what is prohibited by the final 4(d) rule 
in the WNS zone and provide examples of how other activities could be 
implemented in a way that avoids the potential for incidental take.

Hibernacula

    Northern long-eared bats predominantly overwinter in hibernacula 
that include caves and abandoned mines. For additional details about 
the characteristics of the hibernacula selected by northern long-eared 
bats, see the final listing determination (80 FR 17974; April 2, 2015). 
Northern long-eared bats have shown a high degree of philopatry (using 
the same site over multiple years) for a hibernaculum (Pearson 1962, p. 
30), although they may not return to the same hibernaculum in 
successive seasons (Caceres and Barclay 2000, p. 2).
    Hibernacula are so significant to the northern long-eared bat that 
they are considered a primary driver in the species distribution (e.g., 
Kurta 1982, p. 302). Northern long-eared bats are documented in 
hibernacula in 29 of the 37 states in the species' range. Other States 
within the species' range have no known hibernacula, which may reflect 
that no suitable hibernacula are present, a limited survey effort, or 
the northern long-eared bat's use of sites not previously identified as 
suitable.
    In general, bats select hibernacula because they have 
characteristics that allow the bats to meet specific life-cycle 
requirements. Factors influencing a hibernaculum's suitability include 
its physical structure (e.g., openings, interior space, depth), air 
circulation, temperature profile, and location relative to foraging 
sites (Tuttle and Stevenson 1978, pp. 108-121).
    Overwinter survival can be a particularly challenging period in the 
northern long-eared bat's life cycle. Hibernating bats appear to 
balance their physical condition (e.g., fat reserves upon entering 
hibernation), hibernacula characteristics (e.g., temperature variation, 
humidity), social resources (e.g., roosting singly or in groups), and 
metabolic condition (i.e., degree of torpor, which is the state of 
mental or physical inactivity) to meet overwinter survival needs. The 
overwinter physiological needs of the species include maintaining body 
temperature above freezing, minimizing water loss, meeting energetic 
needs until prey again become available, and responding to disturbance 
or disease. Because of this complex interplay of hibernacula 
characteristics and bat physiology, changes to hibernacula can 
significantly impact their suitability as well as the survival of any 
hibernating bats.
    In general, northern long-eared bats arrive at hibernacula in 
August or September, enter hibernation in October and November, and 
emerge from the hibernacula in March or April (Caire et al. 1979, p. 
405; Whitaker and Hamilton 1998, p. 100; Amelon and Burhans 2006, p. 
72). However, hibernation may begin as early as August (Whitaker and 
Rissler 1992b, p. 56). Northern long-eared bats have been observed 
moving among hibernacula throughout the winter (Griffin 1940a, p. 185; 
Whitaker and Rissler 1992a, p. 131; Caceres and Barclay 2000, pp. 2-3). 
Whitaker and Mumford (2009, p. 210) found that this species flies in 
and out of some mines and caves in southern Indiana throughout the 
winter.
    Human disturbance of hibernating bats has long been considered a 
threat to cave-hibernating bat species like the northern long-eared 
bat. Modifications to bat hibernacula can affect the microclimate 
(e.g., temperature, humidity) of the subterranean habitat, and thus the 
ability of the cave or mine to support hibernating bats, including the 
northern long-eared bat. Anthropogenic modifications to cave and mine 
entrances may not only alter flight characteristics and access (Spanjer 
and Fenton 2005, p. 1110), but may change airflow and alter internal 
microclimates of the caves and mines, eliminating their utility as 
hibernacula (Service 2007, p. 71). For example, Richter et al. (1993, 
p. 409) attributed the decline in the number of Indiana bats at 
Wyandotte Cave, Indiana (which harbors one of the largest known 
population of hibernating Indiana bats (Myotis sodalis)), to an 
increase in the cave's temperature resulting from restricted airflow 
caused by a stone wall erected at the cave's entrance. In addition to 
the direct access modifications to caves discussed above, debris 
buildup at entrances or on cave gates can also significantly modify the 
cave or mine site characteristics by restricting airflow and the course 
of natural water flow. Water-flow restriction could lead to flooding, 
thus drowning hibernating bats (Amelon and Burhans 2006, p. 72). Thomas 
(1995, p. 942) used infrared detectors to measure flight activity in 
hibernating northern long-eared bats and little brown bats in response 
to the presence of a human observer. Flight activity significantly 
increased with the presence of an observer, beginning within 30 minutes

[[Page 1905]]

of the visit, peaking 1.0 to 7.5 hours later, and remaining 
significantly above baseline level for 2.5 to 8.5 hours. These results 
suggest that hibernating bats are sensitive to non-tactile stimuli and 
arouse and fly following human visits. Boyles and Brack's (2009) model 
predicted that the survival rate of hibernating little brown bats drops 
from 96 percent to 73 percent with human visitations to hibernacula. 
Prior to the outbreak of WNS, Amelon and Burhans (2006, p. 73) 
indicated that ``the widespread recreational use of caves and indirect 
or direct disturbance by humans during the hibernation period pose the 
greatest known threat to [the northern long-eared bat].''
    Hibernacula and surrounding forest habitats play important roles in 
the life cycle of the northern long-eared bat beyond the time when the 
bats are overwintering. In both the early spring and fall, the 
hibernacula and surrounding forested habitats are the focus of bat 
activity in two separate periods referred to as ``spring staging'' and 
``fall swarming.''
    During the spring staging, bats begin to gradually emerge from 
hibernation, exit the hibernacula to feed, but re-enter the same or 
alternative hibernacula to resume daily bouts of torpor (Whitaker and 
Hamilton 1998, p. 100). The staging period for the northern long-eared 
bat is likely short in duration (Whitaker and Hamilton 1998, p. 100; 
Caire et al. 1979, p. 405). In Missouri, Caire et al. (1979, p. 405) 
found that northern long-eared bats moved into the staging period in 
mid-March through early May. In Michigan, Kurta et al. (1997, p. 478) 
determined that by early May, two-thirds of the Myotis species, 
including the northern long-eared bat, had dispersed to summer habitat.
    Beginning in mid to late summer, after their young have gained some 
level of independence, northern long-eared bats exhibit a behavior near 
hibernacula referred to as swarming. Both male and female northern 
long-eared bats are present at swarming sites (often with other species 
of bats). During this period, heightened activity and congregation of 
transient bats around caves and mines is observed, followed later by 
increased sexual activity and bouts of torpor prior to winter 
hibernation (Fenton 1969, p. 601; Parsons et al. 2003, pp. 63-64; Davis 
and Hitchcock 1965, pp. 304-306). The purposes of swarming behavior may 
include introduction of juveniles to potential hibernacula, copulation, 
and stopping over sites on migratory pathways between summer and winter 
regions (Kurta et al. 1997, p. 479; Parsons et al. 2003, p. 64; Lowe 
2012, p. 51; Randall and Broders 2014, pp. 109-110). The swarming 
season for some species of the genus Myotis begins shortly after 
females and young depart maternity colonies (Fenton 1969, p. 601). For 
the northern long-eared bat, the swarming period may occur between July 
and early October, depending on latitude within the species' range 
(Fenton 1969, p. 598; Kurta et al. 1997, p. 479; Lowe 2012, p. 86; Hall 
and Brenner 1968, p. 780; Caire et al. 1979, p. 405). The northern 
long-eared bat may investigate several cave or mine openings during the 
transient portion of the swarming period, and some individuals may use 
these areas as temporary daytime roosts or may roost in forest habitat 
adjacent these sites (Kurta et al. 1997, pp. 479, 483; Lowe 2012, p. 
51). Little is known about northern long-eared bat roost selection 
outside of caves and mines during the swarming period (Lowe 2012, p. 
6).
    Based on the importance of hibernacula to northern long-eared bats, 
take is prohibited in and around the hibernacula within the WNS zone, 
including activities that may alter the hibernacula at any time of the 
year. Further, we have determined that when the conservation measures 
for the northern long-eared bat included in this final 4(d) rule are 
applied to areas within 0.25 mile (0.4 km) of the hibernacula, the 
potential for negative impacts to individuals is significantly reduced.

Activities Not Involving Tree Removal Are Not Prohibited

    Under this final 4(d) rule, activities within the WNS zone not 
involving tree removal are not prohibited provided they do not result 
in the incidental take of northern long eared bats in hibernacula or 
otherwise impair essential behavioral patterns at known hibernacula. In 
our final listing determination (80 FR 17974; April 2, 2015), we 
identified a number of activities not involving tree removal that may 
have direct or indirect effects on northern long-eared bats. These 
activities have the potential to cause the incidental take of northern 
long-eared bats and include activities such as the operation of 
utility-scale wind-energy turbines, application of pesticides, and 
prescribed fire (this is not an exhaustive list; it is merely 
representative of activities that may result in take of northern long-
eared bats).
    At the time of our listing determination and the interim 4(d) rule 
(80 FR 17974; April 2, 2015), we stated that we had no compelling 
evidence that these activities would have significant effects on the 
northern long-eared bat when considered alone. However, we thought 
these factors may have a cumulative effect on this species when 
considered in concert with WNS. After additional consideration and our 
review of public comments received on the proposed and interim 4(d) 
rules, we did not find compelling evidence that regulating these 
potential cumulative effects would result in significant impacts at the 
species level. Effects to relatively small numbers of individuals are 
not anticipated to impair conservation efforts or the recovery 
potential of the species.

Wind-Energy Facilities

    Wind-energy facilities are found scattered throughout the range of 
the northern long-eared bat, and many new facilities are anticipated to 
be constructed over the next 15 years (United States Department of 
Energy 2008, unpaginated). We reviewed post-construction mortality 
monitoring studies conducted at various times from 1998 through 2014 at 
81 unique operating wind-energy facilities in the range of the northern 
long-eared bat in the United States and Canada (Service 2015, 
unpublished data). In these studies, 43 northern long-eared bat 
mortalities were documented at 19 of the sites. The northern long-eared 
bat fatalities comprised less than 1 percent of all documented bat 
mortalities. In most cases, the level of effort for most post-
construction monitoring studies is not sufficient to confidently 
exclude the possibility that infrequent fatalities are being missed, 
but finding none or only small numbers over many sites and years can 
suggest the order of what may be missed. Thus while sustained mortality 
at particular facilities could potentially cause declines in local 
populations of the northern long-eared bat, if that is in fact 
occurring, it does not appear to be wide-spread at least when compared 
to other bat species which are nearly always found in fatality 
monitoring at wind facilities. At those sites with a northern long-
eared bat fatality where multiple years of monitoring data were also 
available for review (n = 12), fatalities of northern long-eared bats 
were only reported in multiple years at two of the sites and for the 
other 10 sites only a single fatality was reported over multiple years 
of monitoring. For example, one site reported one northern long-eared 
bat fatality in 2008, but none in 2009, 2010, or 2011. Further, the 
number of fatalities of northern long-eared bats found at any given 
site has been relatively small (e.g., most often a single fatality was 
found, but in all cases no more than six), and typically most sites (62 
out of 81) found

[[Page 1906]]

no northern long-eared bat fatalities at all. There is a great deal of 
uncertainty related to extrapolating these numbers to generate an 
estimate of total northern long-eared bat mortality at wind-energy 
facilities due to variability in post-construction survey effort and 
methodology (Huso and Dalthorp 2014, pp. 546-547). Further, bat 
mortality can vary between years and between sites, and detected 
carcasses are only a small percentage of total bat mortalities. 
However, even with those limitations, northern long-eared bats were 
rarely detected as mortalities, even when they were known to be common 
on the landscape around the wind-energy facility.
    We recognize that several wind energy facilities have completed, or 
are currently working to complete, habitat conservation plans (HCPs; 
permit pursuant to section 10(a)(1)(B) of the Act) for other listed bat 
species where the number of fatalities reported is also very low. When 
the take of an endangered species is reasonably certain to occur, we 
recommend that a project proponent secure incidental take coverage 
pursuant to section 10 of the Act. Over the operational life of a wind 
energy facility (typically anticipated to be at least 20 to 30 years), 
the take of listed species may be reasonably certain to occur, even if 
the level of mortalities annually is anticipated to be quite low. 
However, this does not mean that prohibiting that incidental take in 
the case of a threatened species is necessary and advisable for the 
conservation of such a species. For the northern long-eared bat, we do 
not anticipate that the fatalities that will be caused by wind energy 
would meaningfully change the species' status in the foreseeable 
future.
    In addition, the wind industry has recently published best 
management practices establishing voluntary operating protocols, which 
they expect ``to reduce impacts to bats from operating wind turbines by 
as much as 30 percent'' (AWEA 2015, unpaginated). Given the large 
numbers of other bat species impacted by wind energy (Hein et al. 2013, 
p. 12) and the economic importance of bats in controlling agricultural 
or forest pest species (Boyles et al. 2011, pp. 41-42; Maine and 
Boyles, 2015, p. 12442), we anticipate that these new standards will be 
adopted by the wind-energy sector and ultimately required by wind-
energy-siting regulators at State and local levels. We recommend that 
wind facilities adopt these operating protocols.
    Our primary reason for not establishing regulatory criteria for 
wind-energy facilities is that the best available information does not 
indicate significant impacts to northern long-eared bats from such 
operations. We conclude that there may be adverse effects posed by 
wind-energy development to individual northern long-eared bats; 
however, there is no evidence suggesting that effects from wind-energy 
development has led to significant declines in this species, nor is 
there evidence that regulating the incidental take that is occurring 
would meaningfully change the conservation or recovery potential of the 
species in the face of WNS. Furthermore, with the adoption by wind-
energy facilities of the new voluntary standards, risk to all bats, 
including the northern long-eared bat, should be further reduced.

Environmental Contaminants

    Environmental contaminants, in particular insecticides, pesticides, 
and inorganic contaminants, such as mercury and lead, may also have 
detrimental effects on individual northern long-eared bats. However, 
across the wide-range of the species, it is unclear whether 
environmental contaminants, regardless of the source (e.g., pesticide 
applications, industrial waste-water), would be expected to cause 
population-level impacts to the northern long-eared bat either 
independently or in concert with WNS. Historically, the most 
intensively-studied contaminants in bats have been the organochlorine 
insecticides (OCs; O'Shea and Clark 2002, p. 238). During wide-spread 
use of OCs in the 1960s and 1970s, lethal pesticide poisoning was 
demonstrated in gray bats (Myotis grisescens), Mexican free-tailed bats 
(Tadarida brasiliensis), and Indiana bats (Myotis sodalis) (O'Shea and 
Clark 2002, p. 239, 242). Since the phasing out of OCs in the United 
States, the effects of chemical contaminants on bats have been less 
well studied (O'Shea and Johnston 2009, p. 501); however, a few recent 
studies have demonstrated the accumulation of potentially toxic 
elements and chemicals in North American bats. For instance, Yates et 
al. (2014, pp. 48-49) quantified total mercury (Hg) levels in 1,481 fur 
samples and 681 blood samples from 10 bat species captured across 8 
northeastern U.S. States and detected the highest Hg levels in tri-
colored bats (Perimyotis subflavus), little brown bats (Myotis 
lucifugus) and northern long-eared bats. More recently, Secord et al. 
(2015) analyzed tissue samples from 48 northeastern bat carcasses of 
four species, including northern long-eared bats, and detected 
accumulations of several contaminants of emerging concern (CECs), 
including most commonly polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PDBEs; 100 
percent of samples), salicylic acid (81 percent), thiabendazole (50 
percent), and caffeine (23 percent). Digoxigenin, ibuprofen, warfarin, 
penicillin V, testosterone, and N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide (DEET) were 
also present in at least 15 percent of samples. Compounds with the 
highest concentrations were bisphenol A (397 ng/g), PDBE congeners 28, 
47, 99, 100, 153, and 154 (83.5 ng/g), triclosan (71.3 n/g), caffeine 
(68.3 ng/g), salicylic acid (66.4 ng/g), warfarin (57.6 ng/g), 
sulfathiazole (55.8 ng/g), tris(1-chloro-2-propyl) phosphate (53.8 ng/
g), and DEET (37.2 ng/g).
    Although there is the potential for direct and indirect 
contaminant-related effects, mortality or other population-level 
impacts have not been reported for northern long-eared bats. Long-term 
sublethal effects of environmental contaminants on bats are largely 
unknown; however, environmentally relevant exposure levels of various 
contaminants have been shown to impair nervous system, endocrine, and 
reproductive functioning in other wildlife (Yates et al. 2014, p. 52; 
K[ouml]hler and Triebskorn 2013, p. 761; Colborn et al. 1993, p. 378). 
Moreover, bats' high metabolic rates, longevity, insectivorous diet, 
migration-hibernation patterns of fat deposition and depletion, and 
immune impairment during hibernation, along with potentially 
exacerbating effects of WNS, likely increase their risk of exposure to 
and accumulation of environmental toxins (Secord et al. 2015, p. 411, 
Yates et al. 2014, p. 46, Geluso et al. 1976, p. 184; Quarles 2013, p. 
4, O'Shea and Clark 2002, p. 238). Following WNS-caused population 
declines in northeastern little brown bats, Kannan et al. (2010) 
investigated whether exposure to toxic contaminants could be a 
contributing factor in WNS-related mortality. Although high 
concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), PBDEs, 
polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs), and chlordanes were found in the fat 
tissues of WNS-infected bats in New York, relative concentrations in 
bats from an uninfected population in Kentucky were also high (Kannan 
et al. 2010, p. 615). The authors concluded that the study's sample 
sizes were too small to accurately associate contaminant exposure with 
the effects of WNS in bats (Kannan et al. 2010, p. 618), but argued 
that additional research is needed. Despite the lack of knowledge on 
the effects of various contaminants on northern long-eared bats, we 
recognize the potential for direct and indirect consequences.

[[Page 1907]]

However, contaminant-related mortality has not been reported for 
northern long-eared bats. Additionally, Ingersoll (2013, p. 9) 
suggested it was unclear what other threats or combination of threats 
other than WNS (e.g., changes to critical roosting or foraging habitat, 
collisions, effects from chemicals) may be responsible for recent bat 
declines.

Prescribed Fire

    Prescribed fire is a useful forest-management tool. However, there 
are potential negative effects from prescribed burning, including 
direct mortality to the northern long-eared bat. Therefore, when using 
prescribed burning as a management tool, fire frequency, timing, 
location, and intensity all need to be considered to lower the risk of 
incidental take of bats. Carter et al. (2002, pp. 140-141) suggested 
that the risk of direct injury and mortality to southeastern forest- 
dwelling bats resulting from summer prescribed fire is generally low. 
During warm temperatures, bats are able to arouse from short-term 
torpor quickly. Northern long-eared bats use multiple roosts, switch 
roost trees often, and could likely use alternative roosts in unburned 
areas, should fire destroy the current roost. Non-volant pups are 
likely the most vulnerable to death and injury from fire. Although most 
eastern bat species are able to carry their young for some time after 
they are born (Davis 1970, pp. 187-189), the degree to which this 
behavior would allow females to relocate their young if fire threatens 
the nursery roost is unknown. The potential for death or injury 
resulting from prescribed burning depends largely on site-specific 
circumstances, e.g., fire intensity near the maternity roost tree and 
the height above ground of pups in the maternity roost tree. Not all 
fires through maternity roosting areas will kill or injure all pups 
present.
    Bats are known to take advantage of fire-killed snags and continue 
roosting in burned areas. Boyles and Aubrey (2006, pp. 111-112) found 
that, after years of fire suppression, initial burning created abundant 
snags, which evening bats (Nycticeius humeralis) used extensively for 
roosting. Johnson et al. (2010, pp. 115) found that after burning, male 
Indiana bats roosted primarily in fire-killed maples. In the Daniel 
Boone National Forest, Lacki et al. (2009, p. 5) radio-tracked adult 
female northern long-eared bats before and after prescribed fire, 
finding more roosts (74.3 percent) in burned habitats than in unburned 
habitats. Burning may create more suitable snags for roosting through 
exfoliation of bark (Johnson et al. 2009a, p. 240), mimicking trees in 
the appropriate decay stage for roosting bats. In addition to creating 
snags and live trees with roost features, prescribed fire may enhance 
the suitability of trees as roosts by reducing adjacent forest clutter. 
Perry et al. (2007, p. 162) found that five of six species, including 
northern long-eared bat, roosted disproportionately in stands that were 
thinned and burned 1 to 4 years prior but that still retained large 
overstory trees.
    The use of prescribed fire, where warranted, will, in any given 
year, impact only a small proportion of the northern long-eared bat's 
range during the bats active period. In addition, there are substantial 
benefits of prescribed fire for maintaining forest ecosystems. For 
example, the U.S. Forest Service's Southern Region manages 
approximately 10.9 million acres (4.4 million hectares (ha)) of land, 
and the maximum estimate of acres where prescribed fire is employed 
annually during the active period of northern-long eared bats (April 
through October) was 320,577 acres (129,732 ha), which is less than 3 
percent of the National Forest regional lands. Similarly, the Forest 
Service's Eastern Region manages 15 Forests in 13 States that include 
about 12.2 million acres (4.88 million ha), of which 11.3 million acres 
(4.52 million ha) are forested habitat. The U.S. Forest Service 
anticipates applying prescribed burning to 107,684 acres (43,073 ha) or 
about 1percent of the forested habitat across the eastern region 
annually. In addition, only 17,342 acres (6937 ha) (i.e., 0.15 percent 
of the forested habitat) of prescribed burning annually is anticipated 
to occur during the non-volant period on the eastern forests.
    Further, there are substantial benefits of prescribed fire for 
maintaining forest ecosystems, such as providing the successional and 
disturbance processes that renew the supply of suitable roost trees 
(Silvis et. al. 2012, pp.6-7), as well as helping to ensure a varied 
and reliable prey base (Dodd et. al. 2012, p. 269). There is no 
evidence that prescribed fire has led to population-level declines in 
this species nor is there evidence that regulating the incidental take 
that might occur would meaningfully change the conservation status or 
recovery potential of the species in the face of WNS.

Hazardous Tree Removal Is Not Prohibited

    Under this final 4(d) rule, incidental take that is caused by 
removal and management of hazardous trees is not prohibited. The 
removal of these hazardous trees may be widely dispersed, but limited, 
and should result in very minimal incidental take of northern long-
eared bats. We recommend, however, that removal of hazardous trees be 
done during the winter, wherever possible, when these trees will not be 
occupied by northern long-eared bats. We conclude that the overall 
impact of removing hazardous trees is not expected to adversely affect 
conservation and recovery efforts for the species.

Activities Involving Tree Removal

    We issued the interim species-specific rule under section 4(d) of 
the Act in recognition that WNS is the primary threat to the species' 
continued existence. We further recognized that all other (non-WNS) 
threats cumulatively were not impacting the species at the population 
level. Therefore, we apply the take prohibitions only to activities 
that we have determined may impact the species in its most vulnerable 
life stages, allowing for management flexibility and a limited 
regulatory burden.
    In this final 4(d) rule, we have determined that the conservation 
of the northern long-eared bat is best served by limiting the 
prohibitions to the most vulnerable life stages of the northern long-
eared bat (i.e., while in hibernacula or in maternity roost trees) 
within the WNS zone and to activities, tree removal in particular, that 
are most likely to affect the species. We have also revised some of the 
conservation measures. To further simplify the regulation, we have 
established separate prohibitions for activities involving tree removal 
and those that do not involve tree removal. Within the WNS zone 
incidental take outside of hibernacula that results from tree removal 
is only prohibited when it (1) Occurs within 0.25 miles (0.4 km) of 
known northern long-eared bat hibernacula; or (2) cuts or destroys 
known occupied maternity roost trees, or any other trees within a 150-
foot (45-meter) radius from the known occupied maternity trees, during 
the pup season (June 1 through July 31).

Forest Management

    Forest management maintains forest habitat on the landscape, and 
the impacts from management activities are, for the most part, 
temporary in nature. Forest management is the practical application of 
biological, physical, quantitative, managerial, economic, social, and 
policy principles to the regeneration, management, utilization, and 
conservation of forests to meet specified goals and objectives (Society 
of American Foresters, http://dictionaryofforestry.org/dict/term/
forest_

[[Page 1908]]

management). It includes a broad range of silvicultural practices and 
this discussion specifically addresses tree-removal practices (e.g., 
timber harvest) associated with forest management. Timber harvesting 
includes a wide variety of practices from selected removal of 
individual trees to clearcutting. Impacts to northern long-eared bats 
from forest management would be expected to range from positive (e.g., 
maintaining or increasing suitable roosting and foraging habitat within 
northern long-eared bat home ranges) to neutral (e.g., minor amounts of 
forest removal, forest management in areas outside northern long-eared 
bat summer home ranges, forest management away from hibernacula) to 
negative (e.g., death of adult females or pups or both resulting from 
the removal of maternity roost trees).
    The best available data indicate that the northern long-eared bat 
shows a varied degree of sensitivity to timber-harvesting practices. 
For example, Menzel et al. (2002, p. 112) found northern long-eared 
bats roosting in intensively managed stands in West Virginia, 
indicating that there were sufficient suitable roosts (primarily snags) 
remaining for their use. At the same study site, Owen et al. (2002, p. 
4) concluded that northern long-eared bats roosted in areas with 
abundant snags, and that in intensively managed forests in the central 
Appalachians, roost availability was not a limiting factor. Northern 
long-eared bats often chose black locust and black cherry as roost 
trees, which were quite abundant and often regenerate quickly after 
disturbance (e.g., timber harvest). Similarly, Perry and Thill (2007, 
p. 222) tracked northern long-eared bats in central Arkansas and found 
roosts were located in eight forest classes with 89 percent occurring 
in three classes of mixed pine-hardwood forest. The three classes of 
mixed pine-hardwood forest that supported the majority of the roosts 
were partially harvested/thinned, unharvested (50 to 99 years old), and 
group-selection harvested (Perry and Thill 2007, pp. 223-224).
    Certain levels of timber harvest may result in canopy openings, 
which could result in more rapid development of young bats. In central 
Arkansas, Perry and Thill (2007, pp. 223-224) found female bat roosts 
were more often located in areas with partial harvesting than males, 
with more male roosts (42 percent) in unharvested stands than female 
roosts (24 percent). They postulated that females roosted in relatively 
more open forest conditions because they may receive greater solar 
radiation, which may increase developmental rates of young or permit 
young bats a greater opportunity to conduct successful initial flights 
(Perry and Thill 2007, p. 224). Cryan et al. (2001, p. 49) found 
several reproductive and non-reproductive female northern long-eared 
bat roost areas in recently harvested (less than 5 years) stands in the 
Black Hills of South Dakota in which snags and small stems (diameter at 
breast height (dbh)) of 2 to 6 inches (5 to 15 centimeters) were the 
only trees left standing; however, the largest colony (n = 41) was 
found in a mature forest stand that had not been harvested in more than 
50 years.
    Forest size and continuity are also factors that define the quality 
of habitat for roost sites for northern long-eared bats. Lacki and 
Schwierjohann (2001, p. 487) stated that silvicultural practices could 
meet both male and female roosting requirements by maintaining large-
diameter snags, while allowing for regeneration of forests. Henderson 
et al. (2008, p. 1825) also found that forest fragmentation affects 
northern long-eared bats at different scales based on sex; females 
require a larger unfragmented area with a large number of suitable 
roost trees to support a colony, whereas males are able to use smaller, 
more fragmented areas. Henderson and Broders (2008, pp. 959-960) 
examined how female northern long-eared bats use the forest-
agricultural landscape on Prince Edward Island, Canada, and found that 
bats were limited in their mobility and activities are constrained when 
suitable forest is limited. However, they also found that bats in a 
relatively fragmented area used a building for colony roosting, which 
suggests an alternative for a colony to persist in an area with fewer 
available roost trees.
    In addition to impacts on roost sites, we considered effects of 
forest-management practices on foraging and traveling behaviors of 
northern long-eared bats. In southeastern Missouri, the northern long-
eared bat showed a preference for contiguous tracts of forest cover 
(rather than fragmented or wide open landscapes) for foraging or 
traveling, and different forest types interspersed on the landscape 
increased likelihood of occupancy (Yates and Muzika 2006, p. 1245). 
Similarly, in West Virginia, female northern long-eared bats spent most 
of their time foraging or travelling in intact forest, diameter-limit 
harvests (70 to 90 year-old stands with 30 to 40 percent of basal area 
removed in the past 10 years), and road corridors, with no use of 
deferment harvests (similar to clearcutting) (Owen et al. 2003, p. 
355). When comparing use and availability of habitats, northern long-
eared bats preferred diameter-limit harvests and forest roads. In 
Alberta, Canada, northern long-eared bats avoided the center of 
clearcuts and foraged more in intact forest than expected (Patriquin 
and Barclay 2003, p. 654). On Prince Edward Island, Canada, female 
northern long-eared bats preferred open areas less than forested areas, 
with foraging areas centered along forest-covered creeks (Henderson and 
Broders 2008, pp. 956-958). In mature forests in South Carolina, 10 of 
the 11 stands in which northern long-eared bats were detected were 
mature stands (Loeb and O'Keefe 2006, p. 1215). Within those mature 
stands, northern long-eared bats were more likely to be recorded at 
points with sparse or medium vegetation rather than points with dense 
vegetation, suggesting that some natural gaps within mature forests can 
provide good foraging habitat for northern long-eared bats (Loeb and 
O'Keefe 2006, pp. 1215-1217). However, in southwestern North Carolina, 
Loeb and O'Keefe (2011, p. 175) found that northern long-eared bats 
rarely used forest openings, but often used roads. Forest trails and 
roads may provide small gaps for foraging and cover from predators 
(Loeb and O'Keefe 2011, p. 175). In general, northern long-eared bats 
appear to prefer intact mixed-type forests with small gaps (i.e., 
forest trails, small roads, or forest-covered creeks) in forest with 
sparse or medium vegetation for forage and travel rather than 
fragmented habitat or areas that have been clearcut.
    Impacts to northern long-eared bats from forest management would be 
expected to vary depending on the timing of tree removal, location 
(within or outside northern long-eared bat home range), and extent of 
removal. While bats can flee during tree removal, removal of occupied 
roosts (during spring through fall) may result in direct injury or 
mortality to some percentage of northern long-eared bats. This 
percentage would be expected to be greater if flightless pups or 
inexperienced flying juveniles were also present. Forest management 
outside of northern long-eared bat summer home ranges or away from 
hibernacula would not be expected to affect the conservation of the 
species.
    Forest management is not usually expected to result in a permanent 
loss of suitable roosting or foraging habitat for northern long-eared 
bats. On the contrary, forest management is expected to maintain a 
forest over the long term for the species. However, localized temporary 
reductions in suitable roosting and/or foraging habitat can occur from 
various forest practices (e.g.,

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clearcuts). As stated above, northern long-eared bats have been found 
in forests that have been managed to varying degrees, and as long as 
there is sufficient suitable roosting and foraging habitat within their 
home range and travel corridors between those areas, we would expect 
northern long-eared bat colonies to continue to occur in managed 
landscapes. However, in areas with WNS, northern long-eared bats may be 
less resilient to stressors and maternity colonies are smaller. Given 
the low inherent reproductive potential of northern long-eared bats 
(one pup per female per year), death of adult females or pups or both 
during tree felling could reduce the long-term viability of some of the 
WNS-impacted colonies if they are also in the relatively small 
percentage of forest habitat directly affected by forest management.
    As we documented in the interim 4(d) rule, forestry management and 
silviculture are vital to the long-term survival and recovery of the 
species. Based on information obtained during comment periods, 
approximately 2 percent of forests in States within the range of the 
northern long-eared bat are impacted by forest management activities 
annually (Boggess et al., 2014, p.9). Of this amount, in any given 
year, a smaller fraction of forested habitat would be impacted during 
the active season when female bats and pups are most vulnerable. 
Therefore, we have determined that when the prohibitions for the 
northern long-eared bat included in this final 4(d) rule are applied to 
forest management activities, the potential impacts will be 
significantly reduced.

Forest Conversion

    In our listing determination for the northern long-eared bat, we 
noted that current and future forest conversion may have negative 
additive impacts where the species has been impacted by WNS (80 FR 
17991; April 2, 2015). Our assessment was based largely on the species' 
summer-home-range fidelity and the potential for increased energetic 
demands for individuals where the loss of summer habitat had been 
removed or degraded (e.g., fragmentation). We noted that forest 
conversion ``can result in a myriad of effects to the species, 
including direct loss of habitat, fragmentation of remaining habitat, 
and direct injury or mortality'' (80 FR 17993; April 2, 2015). In the 
interim 4(d) rule we exempted most forest-management activities except 
for the conversion of mature hardwood or mixed forest into intensively 
managed monoculture-pine plantation stands, or non-forested landscape 
(80 FR 18025; April 2, 2015).
    Many of the comments on the proposed and interim 4(d) rules noted 
that habitat is not limiting for the northern long-eared bat. As we 
documented in the final listing determination (80 FR 1802; April 2, 
2015), the extent of conversion from forest to other land cover types 
has been fairly consistent with conversion to forest (cropland 
reversion/plantings). Further, the recent past and projected amounts of 
forest loss to conversion was, and is anticipated to be, only a small 
percentage of the total amount of forest habitat. For example by 2060, 
4 to 8 percent of the forested area found in 2007 across the 
conterminous United States is expected to be lost (U.S Forest Service 
2012, p. 12). The northern long-eared bat has been documented to use a 
wide variety of forest types across its wide range. Therefore, we agree 
that the availability of forested habitat does not now, nor will it 
likely in the future, limit the conservation of the northern long-eared 
bat.
    We have determined that when the prohibitions for the northern 
long-eared bat included in this final 4(d) rule are applied to forest-
conversion activities, the potential for negative additive impacts to 
individuals or colonies is significantly reduced. As WNS impacts bat 
populations, unoccupied, suitable forage and roosting habitat will be 
increasingly available for remaining bats.

Tree-Removal Conservation Measures

    Under this final 4(d) rule, incidental take within the WNS zone 
involving tree removal is not prohibited if two conservation measures 
are followed. The first measure is the application of a 0.25 mile (0.4 
km) buffer around known occupied northern long-eared bat hibernacula. 
The second conservation measure is that the activity does not cut or 
destroy known occupied maternity roost trees, or any other trees within 
a 150-foot (45-m) radius around the maternity roost tree, during the 
pup season (June 1 through July 31). The rationale for these measures 
is discussed below.
Conservation Measure 1: Tree Removal Near Known Northern Long-eared Bat 
Hibernacula
    ``Known hibernacula'' are defined as locations where one or more 
northern long-eared bats have been detected during hibernation or at 
the entrance during fall swarming or spring emergence. Given the 
documented challenges of surveying for northern long-eared bats in the 
winter (use of cracks, crevices that are inaccessible to surveyors), 
any hibernacula with northern long-eared bats observed at least once, 
will continue to be considered ``known hibernacula'' as long as the 
hibernacula remains suitable for the northern long-eared bat. A 
hibernaculum remains suitable for northern long-eared bats even when Pd 
or WNS has been detected.
    We have adopted the 0.25-mile (0.4-km) buffer around known northern 
long-eared bat hibernacula for several reasons: (1) It will help to 
protect micro-climate characteristics of the hibernacula; (2) for many 
known hibernacula, bats use multiple entrances that may not be 
reflected in the primary location information (e.g., bats may use other 
smaller entrances that are often spread out from the main entrance 
accessed for surveys or other purposes) and the hibernacula may have 
extensive underground features that extend out from known entrances; 
(3) in the late summer and fall when bat behavior begins to center on 
hibernacula (swarming), it appears that northern long-eared bats may 
roost in a widely dispersed area, which may reduce the potential that 
any activity outside of this buffer would significantly affect the 
species; (4) outside of the maternity period, northern long-eared bats 
have demonstrated the ability to adapt to forest-management-related and 
other types of disturbances; and (5) regardless of the buffer size, 
bats will remain fully protected from take while in the hibernacula, 
when they are most vulnerable.
    The microclimate, temperature, humidity, and air and water flow 
within a hibernaculum are all important variables that could 
potentially be impacted by forest management or other activities when 
conducted in proximity to a hibernaculum. A 0.25-mile (0.4-km) buffer 
will protect the hibernaculum's microclimate. Studies that have 
evaluated the depth of edge influence from forest edge or tree removal 
on temperature, humidity, wind speed, and light penetration suggest 
that although highly variable among forest types and other site-
specific factors (such as aspect and season), the depth of edge 
influence can range from 164 feet (50 m) (Matlack 1993, p. 193) to over 
1,312 feet (400 m) (Chen et al. 1995, p. 83). However, the hibernacula 
often selected by northern long-eared bats are ``large, with large 
passages'' (Raesly and Gates 1987, p. 20), and may be less affected by 
relatively minor surficial micro-climatic changes that might result 
from the limited exempted activities outside of the 0.25-mile (0.4-km) 
buffer. Further, bats rarely hibernate near the entrances of structures 
(Grieneisen 2011, p. 10), as these areas can be subject to greater

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predation (Grieneisen 2011, p. 10; Kokurewicz 2004, p. 131) and daily 
temperature fluctuations (Grieneisen 2011, p. 10). Davis et al. (1999, 
p. 311) reported that partial clearcutting ``appears not to affect 
winter temperatures deep in caves.'' Caviness (2003, p. 130) reported 
that prescribed burns were found to have no notable influence on bats 
hibernating in various caves in the Ozark National Forest. All bats 
present in caves at the beginning of the burn were still present and in 
``full hibernation'' when the burn was completed, and bat numbers 
increased in the caves several days after the burn. There were minute 
changes in relative humidity and temperature during the burn, and 
elevated short-term levels of some contaminants from smoke were noted.
    Northern long-eared bat hibernacula can be large and complex and, 
spatially, may not be fully represented in locational information 
contained in species records by State or Federal agencies or by natural 
heritage programs. A 0.25-mile (0.4-km) buffer will help protect the 
spatial extent of many known hibernacula. For example, one limestone 
mine in Ohio used by northern long-eared bats had approximately 44 
miles (71 km) of passages and multiple entrances (Brack 2007, p. 740). 
In northern Michigan, bats (including northern long-eared bats) 
occupied mines that were more structurally complex and longer (1,007 ft 
 2,837 ft (307m  865 m) than mines that were 
unoccupied, and the occupied mines had a total length of passages that 
ranged from 33 feet to 4 miles (10 meters to 6.4 kilometers) (Kurta and 
Smith 2014, p. 592).
    Only a relatively small proportion of the areas where swarming 
northern long-eared bats may occur are likely to be affected by tree-
removal activity. There are over 1,500 known hibernacula for the 
species in the United States (Service 2015, unpublished data), several 
known in Canada, and potentially many others yet to be identified. Lowe 
(2012, p. 58) reported that the roosts of northern long-eared bats were 
evenly distributed over distances within 4.6 miles (7.3 km) from a 
swarming site. If the northern long-eared bat's potential swarming 
habitat (including foraging habitat during that period) can be 
approximated as the forest habitat within 5 miles (8.1 km) of 
hibernacula, that equates to a 50,265 acre (20,342 ha) area per 
hibernaculum. In any given year, only a small proportion of the forest 
habitat within the potential swarming habitat is likely to be impacted 
by tree-removal activities (e.g., generally 2 percent of forests are 
managed in any given year and over 1,500 hibernacula documented as used 
by the species). Similarly, forest conversion is anticipated to be 
relatively small compared to available habitat; therefore, based on our 
current understanding of potential swarming-habitat, on the scale of 
50,000 acres (20, 342ha) per hibernaculum, the relatively small foot-
print of activities not prohibited by this final rule are unlikely to 
affect the conservation or recovery potential of the species. Raesly 
and Gates (1987, p. 24) evaluated external habitat characteristics of 
hibernacula and reported that for the northern long-eared bat the 
percentage of cultivated fields within 0.6 miles (1 km) of the 
hibernacula was greater (52.6 percent) for those caves used by the 
species, than for those caves not used by the species (37.7 percent), 
suggesting that the removal of some forest around a hibernacula can be 
consistent with the species needs.
    Outside of the maternity period, northern long-eared bats have 
demonstrated the ability to respond successfully to forest-management-
related and other types of disturbances. Therefore, the limited 
disturbance associated with incidental-take exceptions outside of the 
0.25-mile (0.4-km) buffer on hibernacula is consistent with the 
conservation of the species. For example, Silvis et al.'s (2015, p.1) 
experimental removal of roosts suggested that the ``loss of a primary 
roost or 20 percent of secondary roosts in the dormant season may not 
cause northern long-eared bats to abandon roosting areas or 
substantially alter some roosting behaviors in the following active 
season when tree-roosts are used.''
    Prior to WNS, the most significant risk identified for northern 
long-eared bat conservation was direct human disturbance while bats are 
hibernating (e.g., Olson et al. 2011, p. 228; Bilecki 2003, p. 55; 
Service 2012, unpublished data). This final 4(d) rule (within the WNS 
zone) addresses these impacts.
    We have prohibited incidental take of northern long-eared bats 
under specific tree-removal circumstances; however, that does not mean 
that all activities involving tree-removal activities within the 0.25-
mile (0.4-k) buffer of hibernacula will result in take. For example, a 
timber harvest might be conducted within 0.25 miles (0.4 km) of a 
hibernaculum at a time when bats are unlikely to be roosting in trees 
within the buffer (e.g., winter), which fully protects any bats in the 
hibernaculum as well as the hibernaculum's suitability for bats (i.e., 
access, microclimate), and does not significantly change the 
suitability of the habitat for foraging by northern long-eared bats or 
perhaps even improves prey availability. In such a case, the timber 
harvest, although closer than 0.25 miles (0.4 km) to the hibernaculum, 
is not likely to result in incidental take so we would not recommend 
that the harvester seek authorization for incidental take pursuant to 
the Act. For activities planned within 0.25 miles (0.4 km) of 
hibernaculum, we encourage you to contact the local Ecological Services 
Field Office (http://www.fws.gov/offices) to help evaluate the 
potential for take of northern long-eared bats.
Conservation Measure 2: Tree Removal Near Known Maternity Roost Trees
    Female northern long-eared bats roost communally in trees in the 
summer (Foster and Kurta 1999, p. 667) and exhibit fission-fusion 
behavior (Garroway and Broders 2007, p. 961), where members frequently 
roost together (fusion), but the composition and size of the groups is 
not static, with individuals frequently departing to be solitary or to 
form smaller or different groups (fission) (Barclay and Kurta 2007, p. 
44). As part of this behavior, northern long-eared bats switch tree 
roosts often (Sasse and Pekins 1996, p. 95), typically every 2 to 3 
days (Foster and Kurta 1999, p. 665; Owen et al. 2002, p. 2; Carter and 
Feldhamer 2005, p. 261; Timpone et al. 2010, p. 119). In Missouri, the 
longest time spent roosting in one tree was 3 nights (Timpone et al. 
2010, p. 118). Bats switch roosts for a variety of reasons, including 
temperature, precipitation, predation, parasitism, sociality, and 
ephemeral roost sites (Carter and Feldhamer 2005, p. 264).
    Maternity colonies, consisting of females and young, are generally 
small, numbering from about 30 (Whitaker and Mumford 2009, p. 212) to 
60 individuals (Caceres and Barclay 2000, p. 3); however, one group of 
100 adult females was observed in Vermilion County, Indiana (Whitaker 
and Mumford 2009, p. 212) and Lereculeur (2013, p. 25) documented a 
colony of at least 116 northern long-eared bats. In West Virginia, 
maternity colonies in two studies had a range of 7 to 88 individuals 
(Owen et al. 2002, p. 2) and 11 to 65 individuals, with a mean size of 
31 (Menzel et al. 2002, p. 110). Lacki and Schwierjohann (2001, p. 485) 
found that the number of bats within a given roost declined as the 
summer progressed. Pregnant females formed the largest aggregations 
(mean=26) and post-lactating females formed the smallest aggregation 
(mean=4). Their largest overall reported colony size was 65 bats.

[[Page 1911]]

    Northern long-eared bats change roost trees frequently, but use 
roost areas repeatedly and to a lesser extent, reuse specific roosts 
(e.g., Cryan et al. 2001, p. 50; Foster and Kurta 1999, p. 665). The 
northern long-eared bat appears to be somewhat flexible in tree-roost 
selection, selecting varying roost tree species and types of roosts 
throughout its range. Females tend to roost in more open areas than 
males, likely due to the increased solar radiation, which aids pup 
development (Perry and Thill 2007, p. 224). Fewer trees surrounding 
maternity roosts may also benefit juvenile bats that are starting to 
learn to fly (Perry and Thill 2007, p. 224). Female roost-site 
selection, in terms of canopy cover and tree height, changes depending 
on reproductive stage; relative to pre- and post-lactation periods, 
lactating northern long-eared bats have been shown to roost higher in 
tall trees situated in areas of relatively less canopy cover and lower 
tree density (Garroway and Broders 2008, p. 91).
    The northern long-eared bat's tendency for frequent roost switching 
may help them avoid or respond effectively to disturbance by people 
outside of the maternity season. The frequent-roost-switching behavior 
of northern long-eared bat suggests that they are adapted to responding 
quickly to changes in roost availably (ephemeral roosts), changing 
environmental conditions (temperature), prey availability, or 
physiological needs (torpor, reproduction). In a study of radio-tracked 
northern long-eared bats responding to the disturbance from prescribed 
fire (Dickinson et al. 2009, pp. 55-57), the bats appeared ``to limit 
their exposure to conditions created by fire. At no point did they fly 
outside of their typical home range area, nor did they travel far from 
the burn itself.'' While some of the bats soon returned to areas 
recently burned, by day 6 and 7 post burn, they ``appeared to return to 
pre-burn norms in terms of emergence time, length of foraging bouts, 
and use of the burn unit and adjacent habitats.'' Carter et al. (2000, 
pp 139-140), noted that ``During the summer months, bats are able to 
arouse quickly as the difference between the ambient temperature and 
active body temperature of bats is less. Most bat species utilizing 
trees and snags have multiple roosts throughout the forest (Sasse and 
Pekins 1996; Callahan et al. 1997; Menzel et al. 1998; Foster and Kurta 
1999, Menzel et al. 2001), providing alternate roosts should the 
current roost be destroyed by fire.'' Sparks et al. (2008, pp. 207-208) 
documented that northern long-eared bats released in the open during 
the day demonstrated a successful rapid ``flight-to-cover'' response.
    Adult females give birth to a single pup (Barbour and Davis 1969, 
p. 104). Birthing within the colony tends to be synchronous, with the 
majority of births occurring around the same time (Krochmal and Sparks 
2007, p. 654). Parturition (birth) likely occurs in late May or early 
June (Caire et al. 1979, p. 406; Easterla 1968, p. 770; Whitaker and 
Mumford 2009, p. 213), but may occur as late as July (Whitaker and 
Mumford 2009, p. 213). Upon birth, the pups are unable to fly, and 
females return to nurse the pups between foraging bouts at night. In 
other Myotis species, mother bats have been documented carrying 
flightless young to a new roosting location (Humphrey et al. 1977, p. 
341). The ability of a mother to move young may be limited by the size 
of the growing pup. Juvenile volancy (flight) often occurs by 21 days 
after birth (Krochmal and Sparks 2007, p. 651; Kunz 1971, p. 480) and 
has been documented as early as 18 days after birth (Krochmal and 
Sparks 2007, p. 651). Prior to gaining the ability to fly, juvenile 
bats are particularly vulnerable to tree-removal activities. Based on 
this information, we have determined that the most sensitive period to 
protect pups at maternity roost trees is from June 1 through July 31 
(the ``pup season'').
    Known occupied maternity roost trees are defined as trees that have 
had female northern long-eared bats or juvenile bats tracked to them or 
the presence of female or juvenile bats is known as a result of other 
methods. Once documented, northern-long eared bats are known to 
continue to use the same roosting areas. Therefore, a tree will be 
considered to be a ``known, occupied maternity roost'' as long as the 
tree and surrounding habitat remain suitable for northern long-eared 
bats. The incidental take prohibition for known, occupied maternity 
roosts trees applies only during the during the pup season (June 1 
through July 31).
    In addition to protecting the known roosts, we have also included 
in this conservation measure avoiding the cutting or destroying of any 
other trees within a 150-foot (45-meter) radius from the known, 
occupied maternity roost tree during the pup season (June 1 through 
July 31). Leaving a buffer of other trees around the maternity roost 
tree will help to protect the roost tree from damage or destruction 
that may be caused by other nearby trees being removed as well as 
helping protect the roost tree from wind throw and micro-climate 
changes. O'Keefe (2009 p. 42) documented that a 39-foot (12-meter) 
buffer around a maternity roost tree during a harvest in May allowed 
the roost to be successfully used through late July and that one 
buffered tree was used 2 years in a row. We have adopted a standard for 
exception of take that is almost four times that which proved effective 
in this example, in order to better account for the variation in forest 
types used by the northern long-eared bat and a variety of slopes that 
might influence how large a buffer may need to be in order to prove 
effective. Roost trees used by northern long-eared bats are often in 
fairly close proximity to each other within the species' summer home 
range. For female northern long-eared bats, the mean distance between 
roosts was reported as 63m to 600m from a variety of studies published 
1996 through 2014 (Foster and Kurta 1999 p. 665; Cryan et al. 2001, p. 
46; Swier 2003, pp. 58-59; Jackson 2004, p. 89; Henderson and Broders 
2008, p. 958; Johnson et al. 2009, p. 240; Badin 2014, p. 76; Bohrman 
and Fecske, unpublished data). Further, within that data, the distance 
between roosts was reported as small as 5 meters in one study (Badin 
2014, p. 76) and 36 meters in another (Jackson 2004, p. 89). As Sasse 
1995, p. 23, noted ``some roost sites appeared to be 'clustered' 
together.'' Therefore, even this modest additional buffer may also 
protect other roosts trees used by female northern long-eared bats 
during the maternity period that have not yet been documented. In 
addition, because colonies occupy more than one maternity roost in a 
forest stand and individual bats frequently change roosts, in some 
cases a portion of a colony or social network is likely to be protected 
by multiple 150-foot buffers during the maternity season.
    Currently, since most States and natural heritage programs do not 
track roosts and many have not tracked any northern long-eared bat 
occurrences, we recognize that not all northern long-eared bat 
maternity roost sites are known. Therefore, this measure will not 
protect an unknown maternity roosts unless it falls under one of the 
buffers related to protecting a known roost or hibernaculum.
    Although not fully protective of every individual, the conservation 
measures identified in this final rule help protect maternity colonies. 
This final species-specific rule under section 4(d) of the Act provides 
the regulatory flexibility for certain activities to occur that have 
not been the cause of the species' imperilment, while allowing us to 
focus conservation efforts on WNS, promoting

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conservation of the species across its range.

Additional Prohibitions and Exceptions

    In this final 4(d) rule we carry forward other standard 
prohibitions and exceptions that are typically applied to threatened 
species and are currently applicable under the interim rule for the 
northern long-eared bat. These prohibitions included the possession of 
and other acts with unlawfully taken northern long-eared bats, as well 
as import and export. We also included standard exemptions, including 
all the permitting provisions of 50 CFR 17.32 and the exemption for 
employees or agents of the Service, of the National Marine Fisheries 
Service, or of a State conservation agency when acting in the course of 
their official duties to take northern long-eared bats covered by an 
approved cooperative agreement to carry out conservation programs.

Summary of Comments and Recommendations on the Proposed and Interim 
4(d) Rules

    The northern long-eared bat was listed as a threatened species 
under the Act, with an interim rule under section 4(d) of the Act, on 
April 2, 2015 (80 FR 17974). At that time, the Service invited public 
comments on the interim 4(d) rule for 90 days, ending July 1, 2015. The 
Service had already received comments for 60 days on its proposed 4(d) 
rule (80 FR 2371, January 16, 2015). In total, the Service received 
approximately 40,500 comments on the proposed and interim 4(d) rules. 
We discuss them below.

Peer Reviewer Comments

    1. Comment: Peer reviewer(s) commented that the 0.25-mile (radius) 
around hibernacula is an inadequate buffer. There were additional 
suggestions for alternative buffer distances as well as more detail on 
how activities might be limited within those buffers. A specific 
suggestion of a 1.6-mile buffer was made, with a statement that most 
forest practices could occur within the buffer provided that the trees 
were not completely removed (conversion). In addition, a suggestion of 
0.5-mile buffer was made.
    Our Response: We have revised the approach used in this final 4(d) 
rule to ensure that hibernating northern long-eared bats in the WNS 
zone are protected from incidental take independent of the buffer size 
used in the conservation measure. In addition, all northern long-eared 
bats both in and outside of the WNS zone are protected from purposeful 
take (e.g., killing or intentionally harassing northern long-eared 
bats), including while in the hibernacula where they are most 
vulnerable. We have retained the 0.25-mile buffer (0.25-mile radius 
around known hibernacula entrance/access points used by bats) to 
further protect the hibernaculum and associated forested habitat for 
several reasons (see discussion above under Conservation Measure 1: 
Tree Removal Near Known Northern Long-eared Bat Hibernacula). Some of 
the peer-reviewers recommended that within the hibernacula buffer that 
certain limited activities should be allowed (e.g., timber harvest that 
only removes a small percentate of the forest habitat when bats are not 
active). As discussed above under Conservation Measure 1: Tree Removal 
Near Known Northern Long-eared Bat Hibernacula, not all tree-removal 
activities within the buffer of hibernacula will result in take. For 
example, a timber harvest might be conducted within the buffer when 
bats are unlikely to be roosting in trees (e.g., winter) that fully 
protects any bats in the hibernaculum as well as the hibernaculum's 
suitability for bats (i.e., access, microclimate), and does not 
significantly change the suitability of the habitat for foraging by 
northern long-eared bats or perhaps even improves prey availability. In 
such a case, the timber harvest, although within the buffer, is not 
likely to result in incidental take so we would not recommend that the 
harvester seek authorization for incidental take pursuant to the Act. 
Because the buffer only applies to actions that result in incidental 
take of the northern long-eared bat, we determined that there was no 
need to attempt to exempt activities (e.g., a limited timber harvest) 
where incidental take is unlikely.
    2. Comment: Peer reviewer(s) commented that the WNS buffer zone 
should be removed and protections should occur throughout the range of 
the species.
    Our Response: We have established prohibitions on the purposeful 
take of northern long eared bats throughout the species range. However, 
because WNS is the most significant threat known to be imperiling the 
species, we have determined that in areas where WNS has not been 
detected, additional prohibitions are not warranted. We recognize that 
the WNS zone will change over time. We remain committed to regularly 
updating the WNS zone map as new information about the spread of the Pd 
fungus becomes known.
    3. Comment: Peer reviewer(s) commented that the WNS buffer zone 
should be expanded and/or changed to accommodate a more site-specific 
approach, based on proximity to hibernacula, for example.
    Our Response: We reevaluated the approach to the WNS zone in this 
final rule and determined that the 150-mile buffer used for the interim 
4(d) rule appears to be very effective in capturing counties where new 
Pd detections are reported, in particular when looking at the new 
occurrences over the last 5 years. For more details of this analysis, 
please see our discussion in the WNS Zone section of this rule.
    4. Comment: Peer reviewer(s) commented that the Service's 
definitions relative to forestry practices should be more precise and 
should use silviculture terminology.
    Our Response: We have revised the prohibitions to no longer use 
specific forestry practices or silviculture terminology. Take of the 
northern long-eared bat within the context of forest management is not 
prohibited provided that conservation measures to protect hibernacula 
and known maternity roost trees are implemented as described in this 
rule.
    5. Comment: Peer reviewer(s) recommended that the seasonal 
restrictions for the northern long-eared bat ``pup season'' be expanded 
and/or based on climate and geography within the species' range.
    Our Response: We recognize that in some areas or in some years the 
period when young northern long-eared bats are non-volant may be 
earlier or later than the June and July timeframe. The timing of when 
northern long-eared bats give birth is likely a complex interplay of a 
variety of factors affecting fetal development (e.g., condition of the 
mother, temperature, prey availability), and similar factors may also 
influence the time required for young to develop the ability to fly. In 
addition, a study in West Virginia documented that the peak pregnancy 
and lactation dates shifted post WNS (Francl et al. 2012, p. 36). 
However, looking across a variety of studies, the June and July 
timeframe appears to generally capture what is typically reported as 
the non-volant period for northern long-eared bats across much of their 
range within the United States. We have determined that a single 
timeframe for implementing the prohibition on maternity roost tree 
removal provides clarity for the regulated public. In addition, while 
it does not modify the incidental take prohibition established in these 
regulations, our local field offices may be able to provide more 
refined local estimates of the non-volant period for specific areas. 
Project planners may choose to use these local estimates for

[[Page 1913]]

planning purposes where they are available.
    6. Comment: Peer reviewer(s) recommended year-round protections for 
maternity roost trees or conversely that we remove entirely the 
protections for maternity trees because it is ineffective and serves as 
a disincentive for conducting surveys.
    Our Response: Although northern long-eared bats have been 
documented to use some roost trees over multiple years, in many cases 
it is because the tree is dead or dying or has structural defects that 
provides the roosting features attractive to the species. Further, 
maternity roost trees are used only briefly (e.g., northern long-eared 
bats typically change roosts every few days, and only a relatively 
small percentage of those are used more than once in any one season). 
Given that maternity roosts trees are ephemeral on the landscape and 
used for very short periods of time in the active season, we determined 
that year-round protections for known, occupied maternity roost trees 
are not warranted. We considered removing the protections for known, 
occupied maternity roosts as recommended by another peer reviewer, but 
instead modify the protection so as to minimize the disincentive for 
conducting surveys. In developing this final rule, we kept protections 
for known, occupied maternity roosts for two reasons: (1) While it may 
be unlikely, in cases where a tree was about to be removed, but was 
known to be occupied by northern long-eared bats, they would have some 
protections while the young could not fly; and (2) we wanted known, 
occupied maternity roosts to be given consideration because they help 
to signal to project planners an area that is likely to be used by 
northern long-eared bats in the future (as this species has a high 
degree of site fidelity). We refined the protection for known, occupied 
maternity roosts to make it as practical to implement as possible in 
order to minimize the disincentive created for conducting surveys. Many 
forest managers implement similar types of relatively small seasonal 
buffers to protect other species of sensitive wildlife (e.g., around 
nesting raptors) and therefore we do not view this provision as a real 
disincentive to conducting surveys. Please see the Conservation Measure 
2: Tree Removal Near Known Maternity Roost Trees section of this rule 
for additional details. We believe that the seasonal restriction helps 
to protect the most vulnerable life stages, in this case the non-volant 
pups, and is adequate for the purposes of this rule.
    7. Comment: Peer reviewer(s) recommended that pregnant females 
should be protected as part of the seasonal restriction criteria.
    Our Response: We recognize that pregnant females may be in torpor 
or less able to flee in early spring. However, we did not have 
information on how pregnancy in northern long-eared bats influenced the 
degree of torpor or their ability to flee from disturbance. As 
discussed in this rule, we expect only a small percentage of the 
species' forested habitat to be affected by activities (e.g., tree 
removal, prescribed fire) that might impact a pregnant northern long-
eared bats in torpor and, therefore, we expect only small proportion of 
the species' population to be potentially exposed to these activities. 
Because of the relatively small exposure and uncertainty about how 
pregnancy affects degree of torpor or ability to flee, we have not 
expanded the seasonal protections for this purpose. We believe that 
seasonal restrictions help protect the vulnerable pup stage, when young 
pups cannot fly, and are adequate for the purposes of this rule.
    8. Comment: Peer reviewer(s) stated that the conservation efforts 
will not be effective because the natural heritage data are limited 
with respect to known maternity roost trees and hibernacula.
    Our Response: We agree that the data are limited and this can be 
challenging from the implementation and/or project planning 
perspective. However, we have purposefully limited protections where 
possible, to minimize the potential disincentive to continue to survey 
for the species. However, we anticipate that information in State 
natural heritage data bases will continue to improve post-listing.
    9. Comment: Peer reviewer expressed concern with allowing lethal 
take of northern long-eared bats from human dwellings.
    Our Response: We encourage the non-lethal removal of northern long-
eared bats from human structures, preferably by excluding them outside 
of the maternity period, whenever possible. However, because of the 
potential for human health considerations, we have not required this as 
part of the exception to the purposeful take prohibition. We have 
limited this take to houses, garages, barns, sheds, and other buildings 
designed for human entry.
Public Comments

General

    10. Comment: Commenters from many development sectors requested 
that their activities be included in the suite of exempted activities 
under the 4(d) rule (specific sectors addressed below).
    Our Response: In general, this final rule has been restructured to 
clarify prohibitions to take rather than to rely on a list of excepted 
activities. Prohibitions are applied in this final rule where necessary 
and advisable for the conservation of the species. Therefore, the 
various ``sectors'' do not need to be identified or ``excepted'' to 
apply rule provisions.

Forest Management

    11. Comment: Several commenters recommended that forest conversion 
be included as an excepted activity. Comments were specific to 
conversion of hardwood forests to pine plantations, managed pine 
forest, pine ecosystem, and the Service's characterization of pine 
stands as monoculture stands representing poor bat habitat.
    Our Response: Incidental take resulting from forest management, 
including forest conversion, is not a prohibited action pursuant to 
this final 4(d) rule provided conservation measures to protect known 
hibernacula and known, occupied maternity roost trees are employed. 
Please see sections above titled Forest Management and Forest 
Conversion.
    12. Comment: Commenters stated that forest management must occur to 
avoid habitat deterioration to poor quality bat habitat. They further 
stated that forest health depends upon active management including tree 
removal and clearcutting.
    Our Response: We agree that forest management can be very important 
in creating or maintaining forest successional patterns that help to 
ensure suitable trees are available for roosting northern long-eared 
bats. Further, forest management can help to increase prey availability 
or suitability of foraging habitat. Please see our discussion above 
under Forest Management for additional details. Incidental take 
resulting from forest management is not prohibited pursuant to this 
final 4(d) rule provided conservation measures to protect known 
hibernacula and known maternity roost trees are employed.
    13. Comment: Commenters suggested that the Service consider 
exemptions for sustainable forest practices implemented under a 
sustainable forest management plan or sustainable forestry certificate 
program.
    Our Response: We considered incorporating other possible 
conservation measures related to forest management and conversion. 
However, given the overall small percentage of the species' range 
potentially affected by

[[Page 1914]]

these activities in any given year, it was not clear that additional 
conditions related to incidental take from forest management or 
conversion would meaningfully change the conservation outlook for the 
species. Further, adding protections with uncertain benefits, but with 
large potential public impacts can hinder support for species 
conservation. Incidental take resulting from forest management is not 
prohibited pursuant to this final 4(d) rule provided conservation 
measures to protect known hibernacula and known, occupied maternity 
roost trees are employed.
    14. Comment: Commenters stated that the Service should focus on the 
elimination of WNS rather than regulating timber harvest in summer 
habitat.
    Our Response: Efforts to address the threat posed by WNS are on-
going by the Service and many partners across the species range. 
Incidental take resulting from forest management or forest conversion 
is not prohibited pursuant to this final 4(d) rule provided 
conservation measures to protect known hibernacula and known, occupied 
maternity roost trees are employed.
    15. Comment: A commenter stated that the Service should halt 
commercial timber harvest and another commenter suggested restricting 
the removal of snags and coarse woody debris in areas populated by the 
species.
    Our Response: The northern long-eared bat is not limited in terms 
of habitat availability for feeding, breeding, and sheltering in the 
summer (non-hibernating) months. Please see the discussions under 
Forest Management and Forest Conversion above in this rule. We have 
carefully considered the value of habitat protection for the species. 
We have determined that protection of summer habitat is not required 
for species conservation except where trees may be occupied by young, 
non-volant (flightless) pups and for areas immediately surrounding 
hibernacula where they swarm and feed just prior to hibernation and 
when they emerge from hibernation in the spring. Due to this swarming 
behavior and the vulnerability of bats when hibernating, we have 
determined that take prohibitions are necessary and advisable in winter 
habitat (hibernacula), where bats are subject to the effects of WNS. In 
addition, we have determined that protection of known, occupied 
maternity roost trees is necessary and advisable in order to protect 
young pups.
    16. Comment: The Service should increase protections to avoid 
impacts to bats from the point that they emerge from hibernation to the 
end of the maternity/pup season. Forest management should only be done 
in a manner that retains sufficient vegetative cover and protects 
northern long-eared bats at the maternity colony level.
    Our Response: We considered incorporating other possible 
conservation measures related to forest management and conversion. 
However, given the overall small percentage of the species' range 
potentially affected by these activities in any given year, it was not 
clear that additional conditions related to the incidental take from 
forest management or conversion would meaningfully change the 
conservation outlook for the species. Further, adding protections with 
uncertain benefits, but with large potential public impacts can hinder 
support for the species conservation. We have determined that 
protection of known, occupied maternity roost trees during the months 
of June and July is an adequate conservation measure for the protection 
of non-volant pups.
    17. Comment: Commenter(s) suggested an exemption for invasive 
species management in forested landscapes.
    Our Response: Outside of hibernacula, this final rule does not 
prohibit take from activities other than tree removal. Therefore, 
incidental take associated with management of invasive species using 
pesticides or other interventions is not prohibited. Where intervention 
involves tree removal, conservation measures must be followed to comply 
with this rule. However, entities that cannot apply the required 
conservation measures have other means to have take excepted, such as 
section 10 permits or section 7 incidental take authorization.

Human Structures

    18. Comment: Commenters suggested expansion of the definition of 
human structures/dwellings to include bridges, culverts, cattle passes, 
and other human-made structures.
    Our Response: This final rule does not prohibit direct take of 
northern long-eared bats occupying human structures defined as houses, 
garages, barns, sheds, and other buildings designed for human entry. 
While we encourage landowners and project proponents to find other 
mechanisms to avoid killing or injuring bats that occupy bridges, 
culverts, and other structures, incidental take is not prohibited by 
this rule. While bridge and culvert use for the species has been 
documented, it is relatively uncommon compared to tree or other types 
of roost sites (e.g., barns) and, therefore, did not warrant specific 
provisions in this final rule. Within the WNS zone, however, project 
proponents must apply conservation measures to avoid habitat removal 
around hibernacula and to avoid cutting or destroying known, occupied 
maternity roost trees or any other trees within a 150-foot radius from 
the maternity roost tree during June and July.
    19. Comment: Commenters stated that take of northern long-eared bat 
in human dwellings should not be exempted and requested that the 
Service provide rationale for determining that this exemption is 
necessary.
    Our Response: We encourage the non-lethal removal of northern long-
eared bats from human structures whenever possible, preferably by 
excluding them from the structure outside of the maternity period. 
However, because of the potential for human health considerations, we 
have not required this as part of the exception to the purposeful take 
prohibition. Please see the discussion under Exceptions to the 
Purposeful Take Prohibition in this rule for additional details. Take 
of northern long-eared bats to remove them from human structures is not 
prohibited.

Hazardous Tree Removal

    20. Comment: Several comments requested clarification and/or 
expansion of the exception to take for removal of hazardous trees.
    Our Response: Our intent is to provide for the removal of hazardous 
trees for the protection of human life and property. This is not the 
same as hazard tree removal within the context of forest management or 
rights-of-way management where hazard trees are identified as trees 
that are in danger of falling. Incidental take of northern long-eared 
bats from hazardous tree removal in the context of rights-of-way 
management is not prohibited by the final 4(d) rule provided 
conservation measures to protect known hibernacula and known, occupied 
maternity roost trees are applied.

Minimal Tree Removal

    21. Comment: Several commenters requested that minimal tree removal 
be expanded to a larger acreage.
    Our Response: Conversion of forested cover to alternate uses is not 
prohibited under this final rule, provided that conservation measures 
are followed when those activities occur within the WNS zone. For a 
discussion of this issue, please see Forest Conversion section in this 
rule.
    22. Comment: Several commenters stated that the exemption for 
minimal tree removal should be expanded to other (non-forest) industry 
entities and should include all activities that have a

[[Page 1915]]

minimal effect on the northern long-eared bat.
    Our Response: Conversion of forested acreages to alternate uses is 
not prohibited under this final rule, provided that conservation 
measures are followed. This is applicable to all entities that may 
engage in activities that remove trees or convert forested acres. See 
the Forest Conversion section in this rule.

Oil and Gas Industry

    23. Comment: A number of commenters from the oil and gas industry 
stated that the industry should be included within exemptions from take 
prohibitions because: (1) Their impact on northern long-eared bat 
habitat is small compared to forest management impacts; (2) habitat is 
re-vegetated following pipeline installation; (3) oil and gas 
exploration and transport are not the stated primary threat to the 
species (WNS is the primary threat); and (4) adequate regulatory 
mechanisms exist for mitigating industry environmental impacts.
    Our Response: Take of northern long-eared bats attributable to 
habitat conversion and habitat loss is not prohibited under this final 
4(d) rule, provided that developers and project proponents follow 
conservation measures described herein when activities occur within the 
WNS zone. See the Forest Conversion section in this rule.

Rights-of-Way

    24. Comment: Commenter(s) stated that loss of habitat attributable 
to clearing for linear projects is miniscule compared to habitat 
conversion due to forest management.
    Our Response: Incidental take attributable to maintenance, 
development, and rights-of-way expansion is not prohibited by this 
final 4(d) rule, provided conservation measures contained herein are 
followed when activities occur within the WNS zone.
    25. Comment: Commenter(s) stated that the exception, as proposed 
and implemented via the interim rule, should be expanded to greater 
than 100-feet and should be clarified.
    Our Response: Incidental take attributable to maintenance, 
development, and rights-of-way expansion is not prohibited by this 
final 4(d) rule, provided conservation measures contained herein are 
followed when activities occur within the WNS zone.
    26. Comment: Commenter(s) stated that the exception for rights-of-
way should be expanded to include new rights-of-way and transmission 
corridors.
    Our Response: Incidental take attributable to maintenance, 
development, and rights-of-way expansion is not prohibited by this 
final 4(d) rule, provided conservation measures contained herein are 
followed when activities occur within the WNS zone.
    27. Comment: Commenter(s) disagree with the Service's assertion 
that vegetation removal within or adjacent to rights-of-way is a small-
scale alteration of habitat.
    Our Response: It is within the context of the species range and 
potential for available habitat that right-of-way development, 
maintenance or expansion are small scale alterations of forest habitat. 
The extent of conversion from forest to other land cover types has been 
fairly consistent with conversion to forest (cropland reversion/
plantings). Further, the recent past and projected amounts of forest 
loss to conversion from all sources was and is anticipated to be only a 
small percentage of the total amount of forest habitat. For example by 
2060, 4 to 8 percent of forest area found in 2007 across the 
conterminous United States is expected to be lost (U.S Forest Service 
2012, p. 12). We have not broadened the incidental prohibition related 
to habitat loss because WNS is the predominant threat to the species. 
Summer habitat does not now or in the future appear likely to be a 
limiting factor for the species; therefore, we have focused the 
protections on vulnerable individuals in summer habitat and protecting 
the winter habitat, where sensitivity to the effects of WNS is 
heightened.
    28. Comment: Commenter(s) requested that the Service expand the 
rights-of-way exemption to include access roads and infrastructure 
required to deliver services.
    Our Response: Incidental take attributable to maintenance, 
development, and rights-of-way expansion is not prohibited by this 
final 4(d) rule, provided conservation measures contained herein are 
followed when activities occur within the WNS zone. This includes 
related activities such as access road clearing and facilities related 
to delivery of services. In the case where tree removal is the activity 
in question, incidental take is not prohibited provided that the 
conservation measures herein are followed when those activities occur 
within the WNS zone.
    29. Comment: Commenter suggested that the final 4(d) rule should 
prohibit all tree clearing activities related to the maintenance, 
repair, and creation of rights-of-way.
    Our Response: The northern long-eared bat is not limited in terms 
of habitat availability for feeding, breeding, and sheltering in the 
summer (non-hibernating) months. We have carefully considered the value 
of habitat protection for the species. We have determined that 
protection of summer habitat is not required for species conservation 
except where trees are known to be occupied by northern long-eared bats 
when the young are non-volant (flightless) and for areas immediately 
surrounding hibernacula where they swarm and feed just prior to 
hibernation and when they emerge from hibernation in the spring.

Solar Energy

    30. Comment: Commenter(s) requested that solar energy development 
be provided an exemption under the 4(d) rule.
    Our Response: Solar energy developers will need to consider the 
impacts of their development and operations in light of the 
prohibitions of this rule. Incidental take outside of the WNS zone is 
not prohibited. Incidental take from tree-removal activities within the 
WNS zone is prohibited under specific conditions related to known 
hibernacula and known, occupied maternity roost trees (see Activities 
Involving Tree Removal section above for details).

Agriculture

    31. Comment: Commenter(s) requested that agricultural activities be 
included in the suite of exempted activities under the 4(d) rule.
    Our Response: We have substantially revised the prohibitions and 
exceptions in this final rule that may apply to agricultural 
activities. Agricultural producers/operators will need to consider the 
impacts of their activities in light of the prohibitions of this rule. 
Incidental take outside of the WNS zone is not prohibited. Incidental 
take from tree removal activities within the WNS zone is prohibited 
under specific conditions related to known hibernacula and known, 
occupied maternity roost trees (see Activities Involving Tree Removal, 
above, for details). This final rule has been restructured in a manner 
that it applies prohibitions where necessary and advisable for 
conservation of the species. Therefore, agricultural development and 
operations do not need to be specifically ``excepted'' in order to 
apply the rule's provisions.

[[Page 1916]]

Caves and Mines

    32. Comment: Commenter(s) requested an exemption for show caves and 
cave tours.
    Our Response: Hibernating bats are very sensitive to disturbance as 
discussed in greater detail under the Hibernacula section of this 
document. This final rule prohibits the incidental take of northern 
long-eared bats in hibernacula inside the WNS zone as well as the 
purposeful take (e.g., purposefully harassing or killing) of northern 
long-eared bats in hibernacula both inside and outside of the WNS zone. 
When this species occupies caves or mines used by people regardless of 
the purpose, the provisions of this 4(d) rule apply. Show cave or mine 
activities inside the WNS zone that do not result in the incidental 
take of northern long-eared bats are not prohibited. In other words, if 
northern long-eared bats are not being disrupted from their normal 
hibernation behaviors (e.g., by avoiding areas with hibernating bats, 
limiting noise and lighting in areas used by bats), we do not consider 
human use of the cave or mine to be a ``take'' of the bats.
    33. Comment: Commenter(s) stated that an exemption should be made 
available for mining, mineral exploration, and coal extraction 
activities.
    Our Response: Incidental take of northern long-eared bats that 
results from tree-removal activity, including mining operations, is 
prohibited in some circumstances (see Activities Involving Tree 
Removal, above). However, hibernating bats are very sensitive to 
disturbance, as discussed in greater detail under the Hibernacula 
section of this rule. This final rule prohibits the incidental take of 
northern long-eared bats in hibernacula inside the WNS zone as well as 
the purposeful take (e.g., purposefully harassing or killing) of 
northern long-eared bats in hibernacula both inside and outside of the 
WNS zone. Inside the WNS zone, the take of northern long-eared bats in 
mines and man-made tunnels for mineral or coal extraction includes any 
activity that kills, injures, harms, or harasses the species. Mining, 
mineral exploration, and coal extraction activities will need to work 
with the Service to find alternative means to authorize take, such as 
through a section 10 permitting process or section 7 process where 
applicable. Mining activities inside the WNS zone that do not result in 
the incidental take of northern long-eared bats are not prohibited. In 
other words, if northern long-eared bats are not being killed, injured, 
or otherwise disrupted from their normal hibernation behaviors by the 
mining operations, we do not consider those activities to be a ``take'' 
of the bats.
    34. Comment: Commenter(s) suggested that activities designed to re-
claim abandoned mines or maintain cave environments for the benefit of 
wildlife species should be exempt under the 4(d) rule.
    Our Response: We agree that beneficial reclamation and maintenance 
should be encouraged. However, exception from take prohibitions through 
a species-specific 4(d) rule is not the appropriate mechanism for 
authorizing this activity. Where abandoned mines and cave environments 
are in use by northern long-eared bats, take associated with 
maintenance is prohibited; however, we encourage project proponents to 
work with the Service to implement best management practices to avoid 
or minimize the effects of their actions in the interest of habitat 
improvement. We will work with project proponents to determine 
alternate ways to authorize activities, such as section 10 permits or 
section 7 incidental take authorization.

Mosquito Control

    35. Comment: Commenter challenges the Service's assertion that 
chemicals used in mosquito control (malathion and others of comparable 
risk to mammals) pose a risk to northern long-eared bats; commenter 
further requests an exemption for mosquito control activities, 
especially where there is a public health risk.
    Our Response: Please see the Environmental Contaminants section of 
this rule for details concerning our evaluation of the risks from 
pesticide applications. After careful consideration of the available 
information, we do not include in this rule a prohibition on the 
incidental take of northern long-eared bats as result of pesticide 
application provided the application is a ``lawful activity,'' that is, 
it must comply all applicable State laws. Any northern long-eared bat 
unlawfully taken pursuant to a State pesticide law would be a violation 
of this final 4(d) rule.
Adequacy and Clarity of 0.25 Mile Hibernacula Buffer
    36. Comment: Commenter(s) suggested that this buffer is too 
restrictive for landowners.
    Our Response: The Service has determined that a protective buffer 
around known hibernacula is necessary and advisable for the 
conservation of the species. Please see the discussion under 
Conservation Measure 1: Tree Removal Near Known Northern Long-eared Bat 
Hibernacula of this rule for our explanation of the need for this 
buffer. As described in that section, we have prohibited incidental 
take of northern long-eared bats under specific tree-removal 
circumstances; however, that does not mean that all activities 
involving tree-removal activities within the 0.25-mile (0.4-km) buffer 
of hibernacula will result in take. For example, a timber harvest might 
be conducted within 0.25 miles (0.4 km) of a hibernaculum at a time 
when bats are unlikely to be roosting in trees within the buffer (e.g., 
winter) that fully protects any bats in the hibernaculum as well as the 
hibernaculum's suitability for bats (i.e., bat's access, microclimate), 
and does not significantly change the suitability of the habitat for 
foraging by northern long-eared bats or perhaps even improves prey 
availability. In such a case, the timber harvest, although closer than 
0.25 miles (0.4 km) to the hibernaculum, is not likely to result in 
incidental take, so we would not recommend that the timber harvester 
seek authorization for incidental take pursuant to the Act. Further, 
while incidental take of northern long-eared bats within that buffer is 
prohibited (in the WNS zone), it may be authorized on a case-by-case 
basis with further coordination with the Service at a local level. Take 
may be authorized through section 10 or section 7 of the Act. In 
addition, it is our expectation that project modifications may be made 
that would protect the hibernaculum and allow for the project 
proponent's objectives to be met.
    37. Comment: Commenter(s) seek clarification on whether the buffer 
and prohibition to clearcutting (within the buffer) is a year-round 
restriction.
    Our Response: Yes, the protection of the hibernaculum and a buffer 
around it is a year round protective measure and applies to all types 
of tree-removal activities in the WNS zone.
    38. Comment: Commenter(s) suggested that the buffer around 
hibernacula be limited to fall swarming and spring emergence when 
northern long-eared bats are present.
    Our Response: We have determined that protective measures must be 
considered year-round for several reasons, including that habitat lost 
outside of the spring emergence and fall swarming period could affect 
the suitability of those habitats later during spring emergence or fall 
swarming. Further, we have included the buffer on hibernacula for 
several reasons beyond protecting foraging habitat during fall swarming 
and spring emergence. In particular, the buffer will help to protect 
the micro-climate characteristics of

[[Page 1917]]

hibernacula and other entrances used by bats that may not be reflected 
in the primary location information for hibernacula. For example, many 
caves or abandoned mines used may have entrances used by bats that are 
not reflected in the general location information for those sites that 
are used by people; a buffer helps to protect less prominent features 
that may be important to bats. Projects may be able to be planned or 
modified within those buffer areas to retain sufficient habitat and 
avoid harm; however, the Service considers coordination on a case-by-
case basis to be important to assure necessary conservation.
    39. Comment: Several commenter(s) suggested an increased buffer 
area around hibernacula would be more appropriate.
    Our Response: We have revised the approach used in this final 4(d) 
rule to ensure that hibernating northern long-eared bats in the WNS 
zone are protected from incidental take independent of the buffer size 
used in the conservation measure. In addition, all northern long-eared 
bats both inside and outside of the WNS zone are protected from 
purposeful take (e.g., killing or intentionally harassing northern 
long-eared bats), including while in hibernacula where they are most 
vulnerable. We have retained the 0.25-mile buffer (0.25-mile radius 
from known hibernacula entrance/access points used by bats) to further 
protect the hibernacula and associated forested habitat for several 
reasons (see discussion above under Conservation Measure 1: Tree 
Removal Near Known Northern Long-eared Bat Hibernacula).
    40. Comment: Commenter(s) expressed concern with implementing 
measures when they do not have data/information on known hibernacula.
    Our Response: The Service recognizes the challenges associated with 
data sharing and data management. Many states share data management 
concerns and guard data carefully. We encourage landowners to continue 
to work with your State natural resources and natural heritage staff to 
evaluate your ownership for the presence of these important resources. 
When seeking information on the presence of hibernacula within your 
project boundary, our expectation is that a project proponent will 
complete due diligence to determine available data. However, if 
information is not available, we recognize that the project proponent 
that has made reasonable efforts to determine whether there are known 
hibernacula on the property is in the position of not knowing if no 
data have been provided.
Maternity Roost Tree Restrictions
    41. Comment: Commenter(s) expressed concerns about having adequate 
information to identify maternity roost trees.
    Our Response: We recognize the challenges associated with data 
sharing. Please see response to Comment 40. While not required by this 
rule, the Service recommends summer surveys to definitively locate 
maternity roost trees.
    42. Comment: Commenter(s) requested that we clarify that roost 
trees means maternity roost trees.
    Our Response: We have made this final 4(d) rule specific to 
maternity roost trees.
    43. Comment: Commenter(s) expressed disagreement with the 0.25 mile 
buffer around known, occupied roost trees. Some commented that this 
buffer was too small, while some commented that it was too large.
    Our Response: In the interim 4(d) rule (80 FR 17974; April 2, 
2015), the buffer around known, occupied roost trees applied only to 
some types of tree-removal activities (e.g., forest management, rights-
of-ways, prairie management) and excluded only clearcuts (and similar 
harvest methods). Given the relatively small percent of forest habitat 
anticipated to be impacted by forest management or conversion (see 
Forest Management and Forest Conversion, above of this rule for more 
details), we revised the buffer around the known maternity roost trees. 
As explained in more detail under Conservation Measure 2: Tree Removal 
Near Known Maternity Roost Trees, we have made the buffer more broadly 
applicable to all tree-removal activities, but have narrowed it in size 
to provide protection for the maternity roost tree, while minimizing 
the potential that the protective measure would serve as impediment to 
conducting new surveys. We have reduced the buffer around known, 
occupied maternity roost trees to a radius of 150 feet around the 
known, occupied maternity roost tree.
    44. Comment: Commenter(s) stated that the Service should require 
surveys to determine where roost trees are located.
    Our Response: The Act does not require a private landowner to 
survey his or her property to determine whether endangered or 
threatened wildlife and plants occupy their land. We encourage 
landowners to voluntarily seek additional information to conserve 
natural resources in their land use/land management actions; however, 
we will not require surveys to locate northern long-eared bats and 
maternity roost trees on private property.

Residential Housing Development

    45. Comment: Commenter(s) requested that northern long-eared bat 
take be excepted for the purposes of residential housing development.
    Our Response: Take resulting from removal of summer habitat (tree 
removal) is not prohibited provided the conservation measures set forth 
in this rule are followed when the habitat removal occurs within the 
WNS zone. The provisions of this final rule have been restructured to 
clarify prohibitions rather than rely on a list of excepted activities.

Wind Energy Development

    46. Comment: Commenter(s) requested that northern long-eared bat 
take be excepted for the purposes of renewable energy development and 
operation (wind energy).
    Our Response: Incidental take resulting from wind energy 
development and operation is not prohibited, provided that the 
conservation measures set forth in this rule are followed to protect 
hibernacula and known, occupied maternity roost trees. We strongly 
encourage voluntary conservation measures and best management practices 
such as feathering or elevated cut-in speeds to reduce impacts to 
northern long-eared bats and other bats; however, we have not 
prohibited incidental take attributable to wind energy in this final 
rule. Please see the Wind Energy Facilities section of this rule for 
additional details.

Natural Resource Management

    47. Comment: Commenter(s) requested that northern long-eared bat 
take be excepted when activities are included in Department of Defense 
integrated natural resource management plans, providing for activities 
such as recreational activities, burns, and other temporary but 
insignificant effects on the northern long-eared bat.
    Our Response: Incidental take resulting from activities described 
as recreational activities and beneficial wildlife habitat management/
maintenance is not prohibited, provided that the conservation measures 
set forth in this rule are followed when the activity occurs inside the 
WNS zone. We have completed a section 7 analysis on the provisions of 
this final 4(d) rule to ensure that actions completed in accordance 
with the final rule are not likely to jeopardize the continued 
existence of the species. Where these resource management activities do 
not fit within the final rule, section 7 consultation would need to be

[[Page 1918]]

completed to authorize incidental take of the northern long-eared bat.

Compliance and Monitoring

    48. Comment: Commenter(s) recommended that surveys be required and 
that landowners be required to report on their activities in order to 
receive the benefits of the 4(d) rule.
    Our Response: While we welcome landowners' efforts to determine 
where bats may be located on their property, the Act does not require 
that a landowner survey his or her property to find species. We are not 
mandating that surveys be completed as part of this rule.

Alternate Section 4(d) Provisional Language

    49. Comment: One organization commented on behalf of its members 
and 14 other environmental organizations (collectively referenced as 
``the Center'') in support of the adoption of a different 4(d) rule and 
in opposition of the Service's proposed and the interim 4(d) rules.
    Our Response: The remaining paragraphs (under the heading Summary 
of Comments and Recommendations on the Proposed and Interim4(d) Rules) 
pertain to the comments we received from the Center. With respect to 
the overarching comment that our 4(d) rule does not conserve the 
species, we believe that our final 4(d) rule provides for the 
``necessary and advisable'' conservation of the species, as described 
herein. For further information, please see our Determination section, 
below.
    With respect to the Center's proposed 4(d) language, we note that 
the proposed language defines specific prohibitions and would make a 
regulatory determination of ``take'' to include a number of actions. 
These include cave and mine entry without implementing decontamination 
protocols; transporting equipment into caves and mines or between caves 
and mines between the WNS zone and non-WNS zone; cave and mine entry 
during hibernation periods; activities associated with hydraulic 
fracturing within 5 miles of a hibernaculum, within 1.5 miles of an 
occupied roost tree, or within 3 miles of an acoustic detection or bat 
capture record; noise disturbance activities within a 0.5-mile radius 
of a hibernaculum during the hibernation period; and disruption of 
water sources within hibernacula. With respect to protection of 
hibernacula, take of northern long-eared bats is prohibited. 
Establishing the causal connection between a variety of activities such 
as those the Center proposed to be defined as prohibitions is beyond 
the scope of this rule. We have addressed hibernacula protection 
provisions in this rule under the section entitled Conservation Measure 
1: Tree Removal Near Known Northern Long-eared Bat Hibernacula. 
Protections in this final rule are adequate to protect the species.
    In addition to the Center's suggested language for hibernacula 
prohibitions, they recommended language regarding prohibitions for 
prescribed burning and aerial spraying. Based on our analysis, we 
conclude that prescribed burning and aerial spraying do not have a 
measurable population-level impact on the species and regulation of 
those activities will not meaningfully impact the species' ability to 
recover. For further information on prescribed fire impacts, see 
Prescribed Fire above. For further information on aerial spraying of 
pesticides, please see the Environmental Contaminants section above.
    The final prohibition suggested by the Center was the operation of 
utility-scale wind projects, specifically during the hours from dusk to 
sunrise during the fall swarming season, at low wind speeds, and within 
5 miles of a hibernaculum. Incidental take resulting from the operation 
of wind energy facilities is not prohibited by this final 4(d) rule and 
a complete discussion of known impacts to the species may be found in 
the Wind Energy Facilities section above.
    Finally, the Center provided suggested regulatory text for 
exemptions from prohibitions that included language for seasonal 
restrictions, clearing restrictions, mandatory measures for hibernacula 
protection (gate installation), water quality protection measures, and 
data collection and reporting requirements. We recognize the effort 
that has gone into the development of this alternative language. 
However, we have carefully considered the measures that are necessary 
for the protection of the species. Our final rule has been developed 
based on the Service's desire to implement protective measures that 
will make a meaningful impact on species conservation and recovery. As 
stated elsewhere in this document (see Determination section, below), 
we have provided regulatory flexibility while implementing protective 
measures where we have determined those measures to be necessary and 
advisable for conservation of the species.

Determination

    Section 4(d) of the Act states that ``the Secretary shall issue 
such regulations as she deems `necessary and advisable to provide for 
the conservation' '' of species listed as threatened species. 
Conservation is defined in the Act to mean ``to use and the use of all 
methods and procedures which are necessary to bring any endangered 
species or threatened species to the point at which the measures 
provided pursuant to [the Act] are no longer necessary.''
    The courts have recognized the extent of the Secretary's discretion 
under this standard to develop rules that are appropriate for the 
conservation of a species. For example, the Secretary may find that it 
is necessary and advisable not to include a taking prohibition, or to 
include a limited taking prohibition. See Alsea Valley Alliance v 
Lautenbacher, 2007 U.S. Dist. Lexis 60203 (D. Or. 2007); Washington 
Environmental Council v. National Marine Fisheries Service, 2002 U.S. 
Dist. Lexis 5432 (W.D. Wash. 2002). In addition, as affirmed in State 
of Louisiana v. Verity, 853 F. 2d 322 (5th Cir. 1988), the rule need 
not address all the threats to the species. As noted by Congress when 
the Act was initially enacted, ``once an animal is on the threatened 
list, the Secretary has an almost infinite number of options available 
to him [her] with regard to the permitted activities for those species. 
[She] may, for example, permit taking, but not importation of such 
species,'' or she may choose to forbid both taking and importation but 
allow the transportation of such species, as long as the prohibitions, 
and exceptions to those prohibitions, will ``serve to conserve, 
protect, or restore the species concerned in accordance with the 
purposes of the Act'' (H.R. Rep. No. 412, 93rd Cong., 1st Sess. 1973).
    Section 9 prohibitions make it illegal for any person subject to 
the jurisdiction of the United States to violate any regulation 
pertaining to any threatened species of fish or wildlife listed 
pursuant to section 4 of the Act and promulgated by the Secretary 
pursuant to authority provided by the Act. Under this final 4(d) rule, 
incidental take of the northern long-eared bat will not be prohibited 
outside the WNS zone. Incidental take also will not it be prohibited 
within the WNS zone, outside of hibernacula, provided that it occurs 
more than 0.25 miles (0.4 km) from a known hibernacula and does not 
result from an activity that cuts or destroys known occupied maternity 
roost trees, or any other trees within a 150-foot (45-m) radius from 
the maternity tree, during the pup season (June 1 through July 31).
    Accordingly, we have determined that this provision is necessary 
and advisable for the conservation of the northern long-eared bat as 
explained below.

[[Page 1919]]

    Although not fully protective of every individual, the conservation 
measures identified in this final rule help protect maternity colonies. 
This final species-specific rule under section 4(d) of the Act provides 
the flexibility for certain activities to occur that have not been the 
cause of the species' imperilment, while still promoting conservation 
of the species across its range.
    The northern long-eared bat was listed as a threatened species 
under the Act, with an interim rule under section 4(d), on April 2, 
2015 (80 FR 17974). At that time, the Service invited public comment on 
the interim 4(d) rule for 90 days, ending July 1, 2015. The Service had 
already received comments for 60 days on its proposed 4(d) rule (80 FR 
2371; January 16, 2015). In total, the Service received approximately 
40,500 comments on the proposed and interim 4(d) rules. For a complete 
discussion of the comments, as well as the Service's response to 
comments, see Summary of Comments and Recommendations on the Proposed 
and Interim 4(d) Rules, above.
    Because the primary threat to the northern long-eared bat is a 
fungal disease known as WNS, the Service has tailored the final 4(d) 
rule to prohibit the take of northern long-eared bats from certain 
activities within areas where they are in decline, as a result of WNS, 
and within these areas we apply incidental take protection only to 
known, occupied maternity roost trees and known hibernacula. These 
protections will help to conserve the northern long-eared bat during 
its most vulnerable life stages (from birth to flight, or volancy) and 
during spring and fall swarming (near hibernacula).
    In summary, this 4(d) rule is necessary and advisable to provide 
for the conservation of the northern long-eared bat because it provides 
for protection of known maternity roost trees and known hibernacula 
within the WNS zone. In addition, promulgation of this rule allows the 
conservation community to provide for species conservation where it can 
affect change, namely during the northern long-eared bat's most 
vulnerable life stages and where hibernation occurs. This final 4(d) 
rule allows the regulated public to manage lands in a manner that is 
lawful and compatible with species' survival, and it allows for 
protection of the species in a manner that the Secretary deems to be 
necessary and advisable for the conservation of the northern long-eared 
bat. By this rule, the Secretary deems that the prohibition of certain 
take, which is incidental to otherwise lawful activities that take bat 
habitat, is not necessary for the long-term survival of the species. 
Furthermore, she acknowledges the importance of addressing the threat 
of WNS as the primary measure to arrest and reverse the decline of the 
species. Nothing in this 4(d) rule affects other provisions of the Act, 
such as designation of critical habitat under section 4, recovery 
planning under section 4(f), and consultation requirements under 
section 7.

Required Determinations

Regulatory Planning and Review

(Executive Orders 12866 and 13563)
    Executive Order 12866 provides that the Office of Information and 
Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) in the Office of Management and Budget will 
review all significant rules. OIRA has determined that this rule is not 
significant. Executive Order 13563 reaffirms the principles of E.O. 
12866 while calling for improvements in the nation's regulatory system 
to promote predictability, to reduce uncertainty, and to use the best, 
most innovative, and least burdensome tools for achieving regulatory 
ends. The executive order directs agencies to consider regulatory 
approaches that reduce burdens and maintain flexibility and freedom of 
choice for the public where these approaches are relevant, feasible, 
and consistent with regulatory objectives. E.O. 13563 emphasizes 
further that regulations must be based on the best available science 
and that the rulemaking process must allow for public participation and 
an open exchange of ideas. We have developed this final 4(d) rule in a 
manner consistent with these requirements.
Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.)
    Listing and status determinations under the Endangered Species Act 
of 1973, as amended (Act; 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), and any prohibitions 
or protective measures afforded the species under the Act are exempt 
from the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA; 5 U.S.C. 601 et seq., as 
amended by the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act 
(SBREFA) of 1996). However, as this final 4(d) rule is being 
promulgated following the final listing of the northern long-eared bat, 
we evaluate whether the Regulatory Flexibility Act applies to this 
rulemaking.
    Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act, whenever an agency must 
publish a notice of rulemaking for any proposed or final rule, it must 
prepare and make available for public comment a regulatory flexibility 
analysis that describes the effects of the rule on small entities 
(small businesses, small organizations, and small government 
jurisdictions). However, no regulatory flexibility analysis is required 
if the head of the agency certifies the rule will not have a 
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. 
SBREFA amended the RFA to require Federal agencies to provide a 
statement of the factual basis for certifying that the rule will not 
have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small 
entities. Thus, for a regulatory flexibility analysis to be required, 
impacts must exceed a threshold for ``significant impact'' and a 
threshold for a ``substantial number of small entities.'' See 5 U.S.C. 
605(b). Based on the information that is available to us at this time, 
we certify that this rule will not have a significant economic impact 
on a substantial number of small entities. The following discussion 
explains our rationale.
    On April 2, 2015 (80 FR 17974), we published the final 
determination to list the northern long-eared bat as a threatened 
species and an interim 4(d) rule. That rule became effective on May 4, 
2015, and the interim 4(d) rule will remain in effect until this final 
rule becomes effective (see DATES, above). The interim 4(d) rule 
generally applies the prohibitions of 50 CFR 17.31 and 17.32 to the 
northern long-eared bat, which means that the interim rule, among other 
things, prohibits the purposeful take of northern long-eared bats 
throughout the species' range, but the interim rule includes exceptions 
to the purposeful take prohibition. The exceptions for purposeful take 
are: (1) In instances of removal of northern long-eared bats from human 
structures (if actions comply with all applicable State regulations); 
and (2) for authorized capture, handling, and related activities of 
northern long-eared bats by individuals permitted to conduct these same 
activities for other bat species until May 3, 2016. Under the interim 
rule, incidental take is not prohibited outside the WNS zone if the 
incidental take results from otherwise lawful activities. Inside the 
WNS zone, there are exceptions for incidental take for the following 
activities, subject to certain conditions: Implementation of forest 
management; maintenance and expansion of existing rights-of-way and 
transmission corridors; prairie management; minimal tree removal; and 
removal of hazardous trees for the protection of human life and 
property.
    This final 4(d) rule does not generally apply the prohibitions of 
50 CFR 17.31 to the northern long-eared bat. This rule continues to 
prohibit purposeful take of

[[Page 1920]]

northern long-eared bats throughout the species' range, except in 
certain cases, including in instances of removal of northern long-eared 
bats from human structures and for authorized capture, handling, and 
related activities of northern long-eared bats by individuals permitted 
to conduct these same activities for other bat species until May 3, 
2016. After May 3, 2016, a permit pursuant to section 10(a)(1)(A) of 
the Act is required for the capture and handling of northern long-eared 
bats. Under this rule, incidental take is still not prohibited outside 
the WNS zone. Within the WNS zone, incidental take is prohibited only 
if: (1) Actions result in the incidental take of northern long-eared 
bats in hibernacula; (2) actions result in the incidental take of 
northern long-eared bats by altering a known hibernaculum's entrance or 
interior environment if the alteration impairs an essential behavioral 
pattern, including sheltering northern long-eared bats; or (3) tree-
removal activities result in the incidental take of northern long-eared 
bats when the activity either occurs within 0.25 mile (0.4 kilometer) 
of a known hibernaculum, or cuts or destroys known, occupied maternity 
roost trees or any other trees within a 150-foot (45-meter) radius from 
the maternity roost tree during the pup season (June 1 through July 
31). This approach allows more flexibility to affected entities and 
individuals in conducting activities within the WNS zone. Under this 
rule, we individually set forth prohibitions on possession and other 
acts with unlawfully taken northern long-eared bats, and on import and 
export of northern long-eared bats. These prohibitions were included in 
the interim 4(d) through the general application of the prohibitions of 
50 CFR 17.31 to the northern long-eared bat. Under this rule, take of 
the northern long-eared bat is also not prohibited for the following: 
Removal of hazardous trees for protection of human life and property; 
take in defense of life; and take by an employee or agent of the 
Service, of the National Marine Fisheries Service, or of a State 
conservation agency that is operating a conservation program pursuant 
to the terms of a cooperative agreement with the Service. Regarding 
these three exceptions, take in defense of life was not included in the 
interim 4(d) rule, but the other two exceptions were, either through 
the general application of 50 CFR 17.31 or through a specific exception 
included in the interim 4(d) rule. Therefore, this final 4(d) rule will 
result in less restrictive regulations under the Act than those set 
forth in the interim 4(d) rule.
    We completed an analysis of the forested land area that may be 
impacted by this rulemaking. There are approximately 400,000,000 acres 
(161,874,256 ha) of forested habitat across the range of the northern 
long-eared bat, which includes 37 States and the District of Columbia. 
This rule may restrict land use activities on approximately 200,000 
acres (80,937 ha). This area constitutes less than 0.05 percent of all 
forested habitat across the extensive range of the northern long-eared 
bat. Any impact in this very small portion of forested habitat is not 
expected to affect a substantial number of entities in any given 
sector, nor result in a significant economic impact on any given 
entity. For the above reasons, we certify that the final rule will not 
have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small 
entities. Therefore, a final regulatory flexibility analysis is not 
required.
Energy Supply, Distribution, or Use--Executive Order 13211
    Executive Order 13211 (Actions Concerning Regulations That 
Significantly Affect Energy Supply, Distribution, or Use) requires 
agencies to prepare Statements of Energy Effects when undertaking 
certain actions. For reasons discussed within this final rule, we 
believe that the rule will not have any effect on energy supplies, 
distribution, or use. Therefore, this action is not a significant 
energy action, and no Statement of Energy Effects is required.
Unfunded Mandates Reform Act
    In accordance with the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (2 U.S.C. 1501 
et seq.), we make the following findings:
    (1) This final rule will not produce a Federal mandate. In general, 
a Federal mandate is a provision in legislation, statute, or regulation 
that would impose an enforceable duty upon State, local, or Tribal 
governments, or the private sector, and includes both ``Federal 
intergovernmental mandates'' and ``Federal private sector mandates.'' 
These terms are defined in 2 U.S.C. 658(5)-(7). ``Federal 
intergovernmental mandate'' includes a regulation that ``would impose 
an enforceable duty upon State, local, or [T]ribal governments'' with 
two exceptions. It excludes ``a condition of Federal assistance.'' It 
also excludes ``a duty arising from participation in a voluntary 
Federal program,'' unless the regulation ``relates to a then-existing 
Federal program under which $500,000,000 or more is provided annually 
to State, local, and [T]ribal governments under entitlement 
authority,'' if the provision would ``increase the stringency of 
conditions of assistance'' or ``place caps upon, or otherwise decrease, 
the Federal Government's responsibility to provide funding,'' and the 
State, local, or Tribal governments ``lack authority'' to adjust 
accordingly. At the time of enactment, these entitlement programs were: 
Medicaid; AFDC work programs; Child Nutrition; Food Stamps; Social 
Services Block Grants; Vocational Rehabilitation State Grants; Foster 
Care, Adoption Assistance, and Independent Living; Family Support 
Welfare Services; and Child Support Enforcement. ``Federal private 
sector mandate'' includes a regulation that ``would impose an 
enforceable duty upon the private sector, except (i) a condition of 
Federal assistance or (ii) a duty arising from participation in a 
voluntary Federal program.''
    (2) This final 4(d) rule will result in less restrictive 
regulations under the Act, as it pertains to the northern long-eared 
bat, than would otherwise exist without a 4(d) rule or under the 
interim 4(d) rule. As a result, we do not believe that this rule will 
significantly or uniquely affect small government entities. Therefore, 
a Small Government Agency Plan is not required.
Takings
    In accordance with Executive Order 12630, this final rule will not 
have significant takings implications. We have determined that the rule 
has no potential takings of private property implications as defined by 
this Executive Order because this 4(d) rule will result in less-
restrictive regulations under the Act than would otherwise exist. A 
takings implication assessment is not required.
Federalism
    In accordance with Executive Order 13132, this final 4(d) rule does 
not have significant Federalism effects. A federalism summary impact 
statement is not required. This rule will not have substantial direct 
effects on the State, on the relationship between the Federal 
Government and the State, or on the distribution of power and 
responsibilities among the various levels of government.
Civil Justice Reform
    In accordance with Executive Order 12988, the Office of the 
Solicitor has determined that this final rule does not unduly burden 
the judicial system and meets the requirements of sections 3(a) and 
3(b)(2) of the Order.

[[Page 1921]]

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.)
    This rule does not contain collections of information that require 
approval by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under the 
Paperwork Reduction Act. This rule will not impose recordkeeping or 
reporting requirements on State or local governments, individuals, 
businesses, or organizations. An agency may not conduct or sponsor and 
a person is not required to respond to a collection of information 
unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.
National Environmental Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.)
    We have prepared a final environmental assessment, as defined under 
the authority of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969. For 
information on how to obtain a copy of the final environmental 
assessment, see ADDRESSES, above. The final environmental assessment 
will also be available on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov 
and at http://www.fws.gov/midwest/Endangered.
Government-to-Government Relationship With Tribes
    In accordance with the President's memorandum of April 29, 1994 
(Government-to-Government Relations with Native American Tribal 
Governments; 59 FR 22951), Executive Order 13175 (Consultation and 
Coordination With Indian Tribal Governments), and the Department of the 
Interior's manual at 512 DM 2, we readily acknowledge our 
responsibility to communicate meaningfully with recognized Federal 
Tribes on a government-to-government basis. In accordance with 
Secretarial Order 3206 of June 5, 1997 (American Indian Tribal Rights, 
Federal-Tribal Trust Responsibilities, and the Endangered Species Act), 
we readily acknowledge our responsibilities to work directly with 
tribes in developing programs for healthy ecosystems, to acknowledge 
that tribal lands are not subject to the same controls as Federal 
public lands, to remain sensitive to Indian culture, and to make 
information available to tribes.
    In October 2013, Tribes and multi-tribal organizations were sent 
letters inviting them to begin consultation and coordination with the 
service on the proposal to list the northern long-eared bat. In August 
2014, several Tribes and multi-tribal organizations were sent an 
additional letter regarding the Service's intent to extend the deadline 
for making a final listing determination by 6 months. A conference call 
was also held with Tribes to explain the listing process and discuss 
any concerns. Following publication of the proposed rule, the Service 
established three interagency teams (biology of the northern long-eared 
bat, non-WNS threats, and conservation measures) to ensure that States, 
Tribes, and other Federal agencies were able to provide input into 
various aspects of the listing rule and potential conservation measures 
for the species. Invitations for inclusion in these teams were sent to 
Tribes within the range of the northern long-eared bat and a few tribal 
representatives participated on those teams. Two additional conference 
calls (in January and March 2015) were held with Tribes to outline the 
proposed species-specific 4(d) rule and to answer questions. Through 
this coordination, some Tribal representatives expressed concern about 
how listing the northern long-eared bat may impact forestry practices, 
housing development programs, and other activities on Tribal lands.

References Cited

    A complete list of references cited in this document is available 
on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov and upon request from the 
Twin Cities Ecological Services Field Office (see FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT).

Authors

    The primary authors of this document are the staff members of the 
Midwest Region of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 17

    Endangered and threatened species, Exports, Imports, Reporting and 
recordkeeping requirements, Transportation.

Regulation Promulgation

    Accordingly, we amend part 17, subchapter B of chapter I, title 50 
of the Code of Federal Regulations, as follows:

PART 17--ENDANGERED AND THREATENED WILDLIFE AND PLANTS

0
1. The authority citation for part 17 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  16 U.S.C. 1361-1407; 1531-1544; and 4201-4245, 
unless otherwise noted.

0
2. Amend Sec.  17.40 by revising paragraph (o) to read as follows:


Sec.  17.40  Special rules--mammals.

* * * * *
    (o) Northern long-eared bat (Myotis septentrionalis). The 
provisions of this rule are based upon the occurrence of white-nose 
syndrome (WNS), a disease affecting many U.S. bat populations. The term 
``WNS zone'' identifies the set of counties within the range of the 
northern long-eared bat within 150 miles of the boundaries of U.S. 
counties or Canadian districts where the fungus Pseudogymnoascus 
destructans (Pd) or WNS has been detected. For current information 
regarding the WNS zone, contact your local Service ecological services 
field office. Field office contact information may be obtained from the 
Service regional offices, the addresses of which are listed in 50 CFR 
2.2.
    (1) Prohibitions. The following prohibitions apply to the northern 
long-eared bat:
    (i) Purposeful take of northern long-eared bat, including capture, 
handling, or other activities.
    (ii) Within the WNS zone:
    (A) Actions that result in the incidental take of northern long-
eared bats in known hibernacula.
    (B) Actions that result in the incidental take of northern long-
eared bats by altering a known hibernaculum's entrance or interior 
environment if it impairs an essential behavioral pattern, including 
sheltering northern long-eared bats.
    (C) Tree-removal activities that result in the incidental take of 
northern long-eared bats when the activity:
    (1) Occurs within 0.25 mile (0.4 kilometer) of a known 
hibernaculum; or
    (2) Cuts or destroys known occupied maternity roost trees, or any 
other trees within a 150-foot (45-meter) radius from the maternity 
roost tree, during the pup season (June 1 through July 31).
    (iii) Possession and other acts with unlawfully taken northern 
long-eared bats. It is unlawful to possess, sell, deliver, carry, 
transport, or ship, by any means whatsoever, any northern long-eared 
bat that was taken in violation of this section or State laws.
    (iv) Import and export.
    (2) Exceptions from prohibitions. (i) Any person may take a 
northern long-eared bat in defense of his own life or the lives of 
others, including for public health monitoring purposes.
    (ii) Any person may take a northern long-eared bat that results 
from the removal of hazardous trees for the protection of human life 
and property.
    (iii) Any person may take a northern long-eared bat by removing it 
from human structures, but only if the actions comply with all 
applicable State regulations.
    (iv) Purposeful take that results from actions relating to capture, 
handling, and related activities for northern long-eared bats by 
individuals permitted to

[[Page 1922]]

conduct these same activities for other species of bat until May 3, 
2016.
    (v) All of the provisions of Sec.  17.32 apply to the northern 
long-eared bat.
    (vi) Any employee or agent of the Service, of the National Marine 
Fisheries Service, or of a State conservation agency that is operating 
a conservation program pursuant to the terms of a cooperative agreement 
with the Service in accordance with section 6(c) of the Act, who is 
designated by his agency for such purposes, may, when acting in the 
course of his official duties, take northern long-eared bats covered by 
an approved cooperative agreement to carry out conservation programs.
* * * * *

    Dated: January 7, 2016.
Karen Hyun,
Acting Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and 
Parks.
[FR Doc. 2016-00617 Filed 1-13-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333-15-P