CONSULTATION KEY FOR THE FLORIDA BONNETED BAT

On October 22, 2019, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) provided the United States Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) Jacksonville District with the Florida Bonneted Bat Consultation Guidelines and incorporated Florida Bonneted Bat Consultation Key (Key). The purpose of this notice is to advise the public that the guidelines are final and effective immediately. This October 2019 Key supersedes the 2013 draft Key and will be applied to pending applications with proposed actions that are consistent with the Key.

The new Key is provided pursuant to the Service’s authorities under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act) (87 Stat. 884; 16 U.S.C.1531 et seq.). The purpose of the Guidelines and Key is to aid the Corps (or other Federal action agency) in making appropriate and consistent effect determinations for the Florida bonneted bat under section 7 of the Act and streamline informal consultation with the Service for the Florida bonneted bat when the proposed action is consistent with the Key.

The Key and additional information can be found at https://www.saj.usace.army.mil/Missions/Regulatory/Source-Book/ under the Endangered Species Section. If you have a pending application, please review the Key and if you have questions regarding your application contact your project manager. If you have general questions about the Guidelines and Key, please contact your local Corps regulatory office. The Corps and the Service are working together to bring training opportunities to the public in the near future.