[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 106 (Friday, June 1, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25475-25479]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-11821]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R1-ES-2018-N007]; [FXES11140100000-189-FF01E00000]


Notice of Intent To Prepare a Programmatic Environmental Impact 
Statement Addressing the Issuance of Incidental Take Permits for Four 
Wind Energy Projects in Hawai`i

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent; notice of public scoping meetings; request 
for comments.

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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), intend to 
prepare a draft programmatic environmental impact statement addressing 
the potential impacts on the human environment caused by alternatives 
described in habitat conservation plans (HCPs) for four similar wind 
energy projects. The HCPs were submitted to the Service in support of 
requests for incidental take permits (ITPs) under the Endangered 
Species Act authorizing the take of endangered species. The proposed 
permit actions involve a new HCP for the Pakini Nui Wind Farm on the 
Island of Hawai`i and major amendments to three existing HCPs 
addressing the Auwahi Wind and Kaheawa Wind Power II projects, both 
located on Maui, and the Kawailoa Wind Power project, located on O`ahu. 
All four wind energy facilities are already constructed and in 
operation. The proposed ITP and proposed ITP amendments would address 
take of three endangered species: The Hawaiian hoary bat, the Hawaiian 
goose, and the Hawaiian petrel.

DATES: The public scoping period begins with the publication of this 
notice in the Federal Register and will continue through July 2, 2018. 
The Service will consider all written comments on the scope of the 
analysis that are received or postmarked by this date.
    Public meetings: The Service will hold three public scoping 
meetings, one each on the islands of Hawai`i, Maui, and O`ahu, at the 
following times during the scoping period:
     Hawai`i: June 18, 2018, 6 to 8 p.m.
     Maui: June 20, 2018, 6 to 8 p.m.
     O`ahu: June 21, 2018 6 to 8 p.m.

ADDRESSES: To request further information or submit written comments, 
please use one of the following methods. Please include ``Wind Energy 
HCPs and PEIS Scoping'' in the subject line of your request, message, 
or comment.
     U.S. Mail: Field Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service, Pacific Islands Fish and Wildlife Office, 300 Ala Moana 
Boulevard, Room 3-122, Honolulu, Hawai`i 96850.
     Email: [email protected].
     Fax: 808-792-9580, Attn: Field Supervisor.
     Internet: You may obtain copies of this notice from the 
Service's Pacific Islands Fish and Wildlife Office in Honolulu, 
Hawai`i, or on the internet at https://www.fws.gov/pacificislands/.
    Public meetings: The three public scoping meetings will be held at 
the following locations:
     Hawai`i: Na`alehu Community Center, 95-5635 Mamalahoa 
Hwy., Na`alehu, Hawai`i, HI 96772.
     Maui: Malcolm Center, 1305 North Holopono Street, Suite 5, 
K[imacr]hei, Maui, HI 96753
     O`ahu: Sunset Beach Recreation Center, 59-540 Kamehameha 
Hwy., Haleiwa, O`ahu, HI 96712

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Darren LeBlanc, at 808-792-9403, or 
Michelle Bogardus at 808-792-9473. Persons who use a telecommunications 
device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 
1-800-877-8339 during normal business hours. Also, FRS is available 24 
hours a day, 7 days a week, to leave a message or question. You will 
receive a reply during normal business hours.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, are 
initiating the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) compliance 
process related to four incidental take permit (ITP) applications under 
section 10 of the Endangered Species Act, as amended (ESA) (16 U.S.C. 
1531 et seq.). The applications are for four wind energy projects in 
Hawai`i. The proposed ITPs (involving one new and three amended ITPs) 
would authorize take of the endangered Hawaiian hoary bat 
([omacr]pe`ape`a in Hawaiian; Lasiurus cinereus semotus), the 
endangered Hawaiian goose (n[emacr]n[emacr] in Hawaiian; Branta 
sandvicensis), and the endangered Hawaiian petrel (`ua`u in Hawaiian; 
Pterodroma sandwichensis).
    The Service provides this notice to (1) advise other Federal and 
State agencies, local governments, and the general public of our intent 
to prepare a programmatic environmental impact statement (PEIS); (2) 
announce the initiation of a 30-day scoping period; and (3) request 
information and recommendations on the scope of the issues to be 
included in the PEIS, including input on the appropriateness of our 
intent to develop a single PEIS addressing project-specific 
alternatives and cumulative impacts of the four separate permit 
decisions, instead of preparing an individual EIS for each of the 
proposed permit actions. The four wind energy facilities are already 
constructed and in operation. Therefore, the PEIS will address only 
effects associated with the operation of the four wind energy projects.
    The PEIS will serve as the Service's documentation of compliance 
with NEPA. The Service believes a programmatic NEPA analysis of similar 
wind energy project-related permit decisions provides the following 
benefits: A comprehensive analysis of cumulative impacts across all 
projects; a reduction in duplicative efforts between projects; improved 
consistency in the analysis; and a more efficient and comprehensive 
solicitation of public input.

Background

    Section 9 of the ESA prohibits ``take'' of fish and wildlife 
species listed as endangered or threatened. Under section 3 of the ESA, 
the term ``take'' means to harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, 
kill, trap, capture, or collect, or attempt to engage in any such 
conduct (16 U.S.C. 1532(19)). The term ``harm'' is further defined by 
regulation in title 50 of the Code of Federal Regulations as an act 
that 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 (50 CFR 17.3). The 
term

[[Page 25476]]

``harass'' is also further defined in the regulations as an intentional 
or negligent act or omission that 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 (50 CFR 17.3).
    Pursuant to section 10(a)(1)(B) of the ESA, the Service may 
authorize take of federally listed species, if such take occurs 
incidental to otherwise legal activities and a habitat conservation 
plan (HCP) has been developed under section 10(a)(2)(A) that describes: 
(1) The impact that will likely result from such taking; (2) the steps 
an applicant will take to minimize and mitigate that take to the 
maximum extent practicable and the funding that will be available to 
implement such steps; (3) alternative actions to such taking that an 
applicant considered and the reasons why such alternatives are not 
being used; and (4) other measures the Service may require as being 
necessary or appropriate for the purposes of the plan.
    Section 10(a)(1)(B) of the ESA contains provisions for issuing ITPs 
to non-Federal entities for the take of endangered and threatened 
species, provided the following criteria are met: (1) The taking will 
be incidental to otherwise lawful activities; (2) an applicant will, to 
the maximum extent practicable, minimize and mitigate the impacts of 
such taking; (3) an applicant has ensured that adequate funding for the 
plan will be provided; (4) the taking will not appreciably reduce the 
likelihood of the survival and recovery of the species in the wild; and 
(5) the applicant will carry out any other measures we require as 
necessary or appropriate for the purposes of the plan. Regulations 
governing permits for endangered and threatened species are at 50 CFR 
17.22 and 17.32, respectively. The Service's general permitting 
regulations, found at 50 CFR 13.1-13.29, also apply to these actions.

Proposed Action

    The Service intends to prepare a PEIS to evaluate the project-
specific alternatives and cumulative impacts of four ITP decisions 
addressing a newly proposed HCP for the Pakini Nui Wind Farm and major 
amendments for three existing HCPs for the Auwahi Wind, Kawailoa Wind 
Power, and KWP II wind energy projects. If these proposed HCPs meet 
permit issuance criteria, the Service would issue separate ITPs to each 
of the four permit applicants. The existing projects, the amount of 
take authorized in their original ITP, and the estimated levels of take 
in the proposed new or amended HCPs (See Tables 1-3) are briefly 
described below. The ITPs, if issued, would authorize the incidental 
take of listed species caused by the operation of existing land-based 
wind energy facilities.

 Tables 1-3--Estimated Change in Authorized Take Requested for the Hawaiian Hoary Bat, the Hawaiian Petrel, and
                                    the Hawaiian Goose per Project Applicant
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                                                           Take currently
                        Project                            authorized 1 2         Change           Total \3\
 
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                                           Table 1--Hawaiian Hoary Bat
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Auwahi.................................................                 21               +176                197
Kawailoa...............................................                 60               +162                222
KWPII..................................................                 11                +27                 38
Pakini Nui.............................................                 NA                +26                 26
                                                        --------------------------------------------------------
    Total..............................................                 92               +391                483
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                                           Table 2--Hawaiian Petrel 4
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Auwahi.................................................                 87                  0                 87
Kawailoa...............................................                  0                 +7                  7
KWPII..................................................                 43                  0                 43
Pakini Nui.............................................                 NA                 +3                  3
                                                        --------------------------------------------------------
    Total..............................................                130                +10                140
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                            Table 3--Hawaiian Goose 4
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Auwahi.................................................                  5                  0                  5
Kawailoa...............................................                  0                  0                  0
KWPII..................................................                 30                +14                 44
Pakini Nui.............................................                 NA                 +3                  3
                                                        --------------------------------------------------------
    Total..............................................                 35                +17                 52
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\1\ Take for the Hawaiian hoary bat was originally authorized for adults and juveniles separately.
\2\ A clarification issued in 2014 simplified the way in which indirect take (e.g., loss of dependent juveniles)
  associated with the mortality of a breeding adult was accounted for and tracked. Juveniles were converted to
  adult equivalencies using calculations based on life-history information included in the respective original
  HCPs, resulting in authorized take represented as a whole number as opposed to listing adults and juveniles
  separately.
\3\ Represents the currently authorized take plus the new requested take.
\4\ Take amounts for these species are summed or combined for adults, subadults, nestlings, or eggs.

Auwahi Wind

    The Auwahi Wind project began commercial operation on December 28, 
2012, and is located on Ulupalakua Ranch in east Maui, Hawai`i. Auwahi 
Wind Energy, LLC, was originally issued an ITP from the Service and an 
incidental take license (ITL) from the Hawai`i Department of Land and 
Natural Resources Division of Forestry and Wildlife on February 24 and 
February 9, 2012, respectively. The Auwahi Wind project consists of 
eight Siemens 3.0-megawatt (MW) wind turbines, augmented with an 11-MW

[[Page 25477]]

battery storage system. Ancillary facilities include an underground 
electrical collection system, an operation and maintenance facility, an 
approximately 9-mile 34.5-kilovolt (kV) above-ground generator-tie 
line, and an interconnection substation.
    The original ITP and ITL, with 2014 amendments, authorized the 
following amounts of incidental take over the 25-year permit term: 21 
Hawaiian hoary bats; 87 Hawaiian petrels; 5 Hawaiian geese; and 
Blackburn's sphinx moths (Manduca blackburni). The above levels of take 
were anticipated to result from project construction and operations, 
including collision with vehicles, generator tie-lines, substations, 
wind turbines and other project structures.
    Auwahi Wind Energy, LLC, is requesting a permit amendment to 
address a higher than anticipated amount of take of the Hawaiian hoary 
bat that has occurred during the first 5 years of operation. Auwahi 
Wind Energy, LLC, is requesting incidental take coverage for an 
additional estimated 176 Hawaiian hoary bats (for a total of 197 bats) 
over the 25-year permit term, which expires in 2037.

Kawailoa Wind Power

    The Kawailoa Wind Power project is located approximately 4 miles 
from Haleiwa town, on the north shore of the island of O`ahu, Hawai`i, 
and began commercial operations in November of 2012. Kawailoa Wind 
Power, LLC, was issued an ITP and an ITL on December 8, 2011, and 
January 6, 2012, respectively. The Kawailoa Wind Power project consists 
of 30 2.3-MW wind turbine generators. Ancillary facilities include an 
underground electrical collection system, an operation and maintenance 
facility, and an approximately 4.0-mile above-ground transmission line.
    The original ITP and ITL authorized the following amounts of 
incidental take over a 20-year permit term: 60 Hawaiian hoary bats; 12 
Hawaiian ducks (koloa maoli; Anas wyvilliana); 18 Hawaiian moorhen 
(`alae `ula; Gallinula galeata sandvicensis, also known as the Hawaiian 
gallinule); 18 Hawaiian coots (`alae kea; Fulica americana alai); 24 
Hawaiian stilts (kukuluae`o; Himantopus mexicanus knudseni); and 15 
Newell's shearwaters (`a`o; Puffinus auricularis newelli). The above 
levels of take were anticipated to result from project construction and 
operations, including collision with vehicles, generator tie-lines, 
substations, wind turbines, and other project structures.
    Kawailoa Wind Power, LLC, is requesting a permit amendment to 
address a higher than anticipated amount of take of the Hawaiian hoary 
bat that has occurred during the first 5 years of operation. Kawailoa 
Wind Power, LLC, is requesting incidental take coverage for an 
additional estimated 162 Hawaiian hoary bats (for a total of 222 bats), 
over the 20-year permit term, which expires in 2031. Additionally, in 
2017, Kawailoa Wind Power, LLC, documented the take of at least one 
Hawaiian petrel at their project site. Incidental take of this species 
was not authorized in their existing ITP or ITL; therefore, Kawailoa 
Wind Power, LLC, is requesting incidental take authorization for seven 
Hawaiian petrels in their permit amendment.

Kaheawa Wind Power II

    The Kaheawa Wind Power II (KWP II) project is located at Kaheawa 
Pastures above M[amacr]`alaea town, in the southwestern portion of the 
island of Maui, Hawai`i, and began commercial operations in July 2012. 
KWP II, LLC, was issued an ITP and an ITL in January 2012. The KWP II 
project consists of 14 1.5-MW wind turbine generators. Ancillary 
facilities include an underground electrical collection and 
communication system, an operation and maintenance facility, a battery 
energy storage system, and an overhead electrical transmission line 
connecting the facility substation to the County's electrical grid.
    The original ITP and ITL authorized the following levels of 
incidental take over the 20-year permit term, which expires in 2032: 11 
Hawaiian hoary bats, 30 Hawaiian geese, 8 Newell's shearwater, and 43 
Hawaiian petrel. The above levels of take were anticipated to result 
from project construction and operations, including collisions with 
vehicles, generator tie-lines, substations, wind turbines and other 
project structures.
    Kaheawa Wind Power II, LLC, is requesting a permit amendment to 
address a higher than anticipated amount of take of the Hawaiian hoary 
bat and the Hawaiian goose that has occurred during the first 6 years 
of operation. Kaheawa Wind Power II, LLC, is requesting incidental take 
authorization for an additional estimated 27 Hawaiian hoary bats (for a 
total of 38 bats) over the 20-year permit term. Additionally, KWP II, 
LLC, is also requesting incidental take authorization for an additional 
estimated 14 Hawaiian geese (for a total of 44 geese) over the 20-year 
permit term.

Pakini Nui Wind Farm

    The Pakini Nui Wind Farm is operated by Tawhiri Power, LLC, and is 
located on Ka Lae or South Point on the island of Hawai`i, Hawai`i. The 
Pakini Nui Wind Farm is currently not covered by a valid ITP or ITL, 
and Tawhiri Power, LLC, has not previously applied for an ITP or ITL. 
Tawhiri Power, LLC, has submitted a draft HCP to support their requests 
for an ITP and an ITL. The Pakini Nui Wind Farm began operations in 
April 2007 and consists of 14 1.5-MW wind turbine generators. Ancillary 
facilities include one mile of underground connector lines, an 
operation and maintenance building, a substation, and an overhead 
electrical transmission line connecting the facility substation to the 
County's electrical grid. The entire project facility footprint is 
79.42 acres. Tawhiri Power, LLC, is requesting incidental take 
authorization for an estimated 26 Hawaiian hoary bats, 3 Hawaiian 
petrels, and 3 Hawaiian geese over a 20-year permit term.

Covered Species

    The applicants are requesting incidental take authorization for one 
or more of the following species: The endangered Hawaiian hoary bat; 
the endangered Hawaiian goose; and the endangered Hawaiian petrel. 
Three of the applicants were authorized to take other listed species in 
their original ITPs; such take authorization would remain unchanged by 
the currently proposed amendments.
    The Hawaiian hoary bat is the only fully terrestrial, native mammal 
in the Hawaiian Islands and was federally listed as endangered under 
the ESA on October 13, 1970 (35 FR 16047). The Hawaiian hoary bat is 
nocturnal, solitary, and small in size and is known to collide with 
wind turbine structures. Take of Hawaiian hoary bats at the three 
currently permitted wind projects (Auwahi Wind, Kawailoa Wind Power, 
and KWP II) has been higher than anticipated under their original HCPs. 
The applicants assert that more recent project-specific bat fatality 
data and use of new statistical tools for estimating and predicting 
take of bats provides confidence that their revised estimates of total 
project-related take of bats are conservative and are unlikely to be 
exceeded over the term of these projects.
    The Hawaiian goose was listed as endangered under the ESA on March 
11, 1967 (32 FR 4001). The Hawaiian goose is found in a variety of 
habitats including scrubland, grassland, golf courses, sparsely 
vegetated slopes, and open lowland country. This species is also known 
to collide with wind turbine structures.
    The Hawaiian petrel was listed as endangered under the ESA on March 
11, 1967 (32 FR 4001). The Hawaiian petrel

[[Page 25478]]

is a seabird that breeds in high-elevation volcanic terrain or in 
montane mesic forests. When Hawaiian petrels fly over land areas, they 
are vulnerable to collision with manmade structures, including wind 
turbines.

Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement

    This notice was prepared pursuant to NEPA (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), 
and its implementing regulations (40 CFR 1506.6), and pursuant to 
section 10(c) of the ESA. For purposes of NEPA compliance, preparation 
of an EIS is required for actions that have the potential to 
significantly impact the human environment (40 CFR parts 1500-1508).
    To determine whether a proposed Federal action would require the 
preparation of an EIS, the Service must consider two distinct factors: 
Context and intensity (40 CFR 1508.27, Service and National Marine 
Fisheries Service HCP Handbook 2016). Context refers to the geographic 
scale (local, regional, or national) of significance of short- and/or 
long-term effects/impacts of a proposed action. Intensity refers to the 
severity of the effects/impacts relative to the affected settings, 
including the degree to which the proposed action affects: An 
endangered or threatened species or designated critical habitat; public 
health or safety; scientific, historic or cultural resources; or other 
aspects of the human environment.
    In determining whether the preparation of an EIS is warranted, we 
must also consider the 10 components of intensity, as set forth under 
40 CFR 1508.27(b):
    1. Impacts that may be both beneficial and adverse. A significant 
impact may exist even if the Federal agency believes that on balance 
the effect will be beneficial.
    2. The degree to which the proposed action affects public health or 
safety.
    3. Unique characteristics of the geographic area such as proximity 
to historic or cultural resources, park lands, prime farmlands, 
wetlands, wild and scenic rivers, or ecologically critical areas.
    4. The degree to which the effects on the quality of the human 
environment are likely to be highly controversial.
    5. The degree to which the potential impacts are highly uncertain 
or involve unique or unknown risks.
    6. The degree to which the action may establish a precedent for 
future actions with significant effects or represents a decision in 
principle about a future consideration.
    7. Whether the action is related to other actions with individually 
insignificant but cumulatively significant impacts.
    8. The degree to which the action may adversely affect districts, 
sites, highways, structures, or objects listed in or eligible for 
listing in the National Register of Historic Places or may cause loss 
or destruction of significant scientific, cultural, or historical 
resources.
    9. The degree to which the action may adversely affect an 
endangered or threatened species or its habitat that has been 
determined to be critical under the ESA.
    10. Whether the action threatens a violation of Federal, State, or 
local law or requirements imposed for the protection of the 
environment.
    The Service performed internal NEPA scoping for the four proposed 
ITP actions and identified the environmental issues requiring detailed 
analysis and also identified connected, similar, and cumulative 
actions. In this case, and after considering the above factors, the 
Service has determined that the four proposed ITP actions have the 
potential to significantly impact the human environment as described in 
the following paragraphs.
    Nearly 30 percent of renewable energy generated on the islands of 
Hawaii, Maui, and O'ahu is sourced solely from land-based wind. 
Combined, the four proposed ITP actions would address 50 percent of the 
existing wind energy operations in the State of Hawaii. Three of the 
four ITP actions propose to significantly increase their authorized 
incidental take levels for the endangered Hawaiian hoary bat. The 
applicants assert that recent project-specific bat fatality data and 
use of new statistical tools account for unobserved fatalities in 
estimating and predicting take of bats. This information provides 
confidence that their revised estimates of total project-related take 
of bats are conservative (high). There is a significant amount of 
mathematical uncertainty built into the projected take estimate, such 
that permit applicants believe take levels will not be exceeded and any 
commensurate mitigation proposed would provide a net conservation 
benefit compared to the actual take impact to the species.
    Cumulatively, the four proposed actions may have significant 
impacts to the Hawaiian hoary bat or other connected components of the 
human environment. The Hawaiian hoary bat is nocturnal, solitary, and 
small in size. These qualities have made it difficult for wildlife 
researchers to effectively study this species, and as a result much of 
the biological characteristics of the Hawaiian hoary bat are relatively 
unknown. The permit applicants may propose a suite of measures to 
mitigate for take of the Hawaiian hoary bat, including but not limited 
to: Habitat restoration, land acquisition, and scientific research to 
determine the relative size and priority needs of the Hawaiian hoary 
bat population. The results of this scientific research are intended to 
inform mitigation strategies for the Hawaiian hoary bat. Given the high 
level of uncertainty concerning biological impacts and mitigation 
efficacy, the context and intensity of potential impacts of these 
permit actions on the human environment are likely to be locally and 
regionally significant.
    Examining the four proposed permit actions individually, the 
Service determined that each of the proposed actions is of sufficient 
size and complexity to warrant the preparation of an EIS; is similar to 
previous permit actions taken by the Service's Pacific Region that 
likewise required the preparation of an EIS; and may have significant 
effects on the human environment. On that basis and in accordance with 
regulations at 40 CFR 1501.4, 1507.3, and 1508.27, the Service believes 
preparation of an EIS is warranted to analyze the project-specific and 
cumulative environmental impacts associated with these four individual 
proposed ITP actions. We do not intend to prepare an environmental 
assessment for any of these four ITP actions.

Similar Actions

    In accordance with regulations at 40 CFR 1508.25, an agency may 
analyze similar actions in the same impact statement when this is the 
best way to assess their combined impacts. Due to the similarities 
between these four wind energy projects including geography, impacts to 
covered species, and proposed minimization and mitigation measures, the 
Service believes a combined PEIS is the most efficient and 
comprehensive approach for considering the project-specific and 
cumulative impacts of these actions on the human environment. The PEIS 
will ensure consistency and reduce duplication in analysis across all 
projects, support a comprehensive look at cumulative impacts, and 
simplify opportunities for public input and engagement.

Request for Information

    We intend to gather information necessary to determine impacts and 
alternatives of permit decisions, regarding the potential issuance of 
separate ITPs to each of the four wind energy project applicants and 
the

[[Page 25479]]

implementation of their supporting HCPs. The primary purpose of the 
scoping process is for the public and other agencies to assist in 
developing the PEIS by identifying important issues and alternatives 
that should be considered. However, this scoping process would also be 
used to inform single-project EISs if we determine it is more 
appropriate to prepare a separate EIS for each of the proposed permit 
actions.
    The Service is requesting data, comments, new information, and/or 
recommendations from the public, other governmental agencies, the 
scientific community, Native Hawaiian organizations or entities, 
industry, or other interested parties related to our development of the 
PEIS or individual EISs. We seek specific comments on:
    1. Biological information and relevant data (e.g., range, 
distribution, population size, and population trends) for the Hawaiian 
hoary bat, Hawaiian goose, and the Hawaiian petrel;
    2. Potential direct and indirect impacts on the human environment 
that would occur as a result of the continued operation of these wind 
energy facilities and the proposed increase in authorized take of the 
Hawaiian hoary bat, Hawaiian goose, and the Hawaiian petrel;
    3. Whether a programmatic NEPA approach, as proposed, or separate 
NEPA evaluations for each of the four wind energy projects, is 
appropriate;
    4. Possible alternatives to the proposed ITP actions that the 
Service should evaluate;
    5. The presence of archaeological sites, buildings and structures, 
historic events, sacred and traditional areas, and other historic 
preservation concerns in the vicinity of any of the four wind project 
sites, including their mitigation areas, which are required to be 
considered in project planning by the National Historic Preservation 
Act; and
    6. Other past, present, or reasonably foreseeable future activities 
on the islands of Oahu, Maui, and Hawaii that may contribute to the 
cumulative impact on the Hawaiian hoary bat, Hawaiian goose, and the 
Hawaiian petrel.
    Once the draft PEIS (or individual EISs) and draft HCPs are 
prepared, there will be further opportunity for comment on the content 
of these documents through an additional public comment period.

Public Availability of Comments

    You may submit your comments and materials by one of the methods 
listed above in ADDRESSES. Before including your address, phone number, 
email address, or other personal identifying information in your 
comment, you should be aware that your entire comment(s)--including 
your personal identifying information--may be made publicly available 
at any time. While you can ask us in your comment(s) to withhold your 
personal identifying information from public review, we cannot 
guarantee that we will be able to do so. Comments and materials we 
receive, as well as supporting documentation we use in preparing the 
PEIS, will be available for public inspection by appointment, during 
normal business hours, at the Service's Pacific Islands Fish and 
Wildlife Office.

Reasonable Accommodation

    Persons needing reasonable accommodations to attend and participate 
in the public meetings should contact Darren LeBlanc or Michelle 
Bogardus at the Service's Pacific Islands Fish and Wildlife Office (see 
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT). To allow sufficient time to process 
requests, please call no later than 14 days in advance of the meeting 
dates.

Authority

    We provide this notice in accordance with the requirements of 
section 10 of the ESA (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), and per NEPA 
regulations (40 CFR 1501.7, 40 CFR 1506.5 and 1508.22).

    Dated: January 31, 2018.
Theresa E. Rabot,
Deputy Regional Director, Pacific Region, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-11821 Filed 5-31-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4333-15-P