Federal Register #FWSR1ES20260463

Conservation Benefit Agreement for Columbia Basin Pygmy Rabbit Habitat in Washington

This opportunity involves a proposed Conservation Benefit Agreement (CBA) for the Columbia Basin pygmy rabbit (CBPR) in Washington State: - Government Buyer: - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), Department of the Interior - Application submitted by Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) - Purpose and Scope: - Enhancement of survival permit for the endangered Columbia Basin pygmy rabbit - CBA covers Adams, Douglas, Grant, Lincoln, and Benton Counties within the Columbia Plateau ecoregion - At least 120,000 new acres expected to be enrolled by non-federal participants (primarily private landowners) - Products/Services Requested: - Conservation and land management services - Implementation of required and voluntary conservation measures - Habitat monitoring, restoration, and management activities - Notable Requirements: - Retention of vegetation cover on enrolled lands - Access for monitoring by FWS and WDFW - Advance notification of habitat-altering activities - Immediate reporting of dead or injured CBPR - Voluntary measures: release of captive-bred rabbits, installation of recovery infrastructure, fuel treatments, habitat restoration, and conservation easements - No OEMs or commercial vendors are specified, as this is a conservation and land management initiative, not a procurement of goods or equipment. - The agreement and permit are proposed for a 30-year term.

Description

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has received an application from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife for an enhancement of survival permit to allow take of the Columbia Basin pygmy rabbit under the Endangered Species Act. The application includes a proposed conservation benefit agreement outlining conservation measures and land management activities to be implemented by non-federal participants on enrolled properties. The agreement aims to foster collaboration, promote voluntary conservation measures, provide regulatory assurances to landowners, and improve habitat connectivity and geographic expansion of the species in Washington. A draft environmental action statement has been prepared, and public comments are invited.

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