The United States Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) is in the process of revising its mitigation policy, which will guide development of more specific procedures and standards in future program-specific policies, handbooks, and guidance documents. The current mitigation policy has been in existence since 1981. The draft Mitigation Policy was published in the Federal Register on March 8, 2016 and based on public comment to date, FWS has granted an extension of time to file comments on the draft policy until June 13, 2016. FWS expects to have a final draft Mitigation Policy in November 2016.
The draft Mitigation Policy focuses on the implementing a “landscape-scale” approach to mitigation, versus piecemeal mitigation efforts. FWS’s new draft policy emphasizes achieving a net gain in conservation outcomes, or at a minimum, no net loss of resource values and functions. The “landscape-scale” approach is intended to integrate mitigation into the broad ecological context, including climate change. Landscape is defined as “an area encompassing an interacting mosaic of ecosystems and human systems that is characterized by common management concerns.” It outlines policies for assessment of resources and projected impacts, habitat valuation, and avoidance, minimization and compensation factors used in development in FWS mitigation recommendations.
FWS also states the draft Mitigation Policy is also intended to foster partnerships with Federal and State entities, tribes, and other stakeholders on a regional scale. This effort is to prevent fragmented landscapes and to restore core areas and connections necessary to sustain species. The draft policy would encourage collaboration and coordination efforts including the use of public and private lands, integration of federal and non-federal activities, and established conservation initiatives, including mitigation banking, in order to achieve resource protection and recovery in the most effective and efficient means.
Businesses that regularly interface with the FWS would be well served by reviewing and commenting on this draft policy, as it will drive the formation of more specific FWS mitigation requirements.
For additional information on this proposed federal action, please contact Attorney Luna Phillips (954 712-1478).
