Species Conservation Banking as a Tool for Mitigating the Impacts of Wind Energy: Opportunities and Challenges

Al Pfister

Western WildScapes, LLC

Allan Pfister is a certified wildlife biologist that has worked in the western United States for the past 36 years. This included 19 years with USFWS in Grand Junction, Colorado; Reno, Nevada; and Portland, Oregon; primarily dealing with ESA issues, as well as CWA and contaminant related issues. He was the USFWS signatory on over 250 biological opinions, and significantly more informal consultations under Section 7 of the ESA involving fish, wildlife, plant, and invertebrate issues. He was involved with the development and issuance of more than 15 habitat conservation plans (HCPs) under Section 10 of the ESA; four wetland mitigation banks; two Candidate Conservation Agreements with Assurances; and supervised USFWS involvement in the development, implementation, and/or revision of more than 10 BLM Resource Management Plans (RMPs), six Forest Service land use and activity plans, and several National Park Service land use plans. These land management plans dealt with activities in the energy development, fire, range, timber, realty, right-of-way, hard rock mining, and recreation programs of the respective agencies.All of the above activities were conducted to ensure appropriate coordination and compliance with the NEPA, ESA, CWA, Bald and Golden Eagle Act, and Migratory Bird Treaty Act.

Abstract

Conservation banks are permanently protected lands that contain natural resource values. These lands are conserved and permanently managed for species that are endangered, threatened, candidates for listing as endangered or... [ view full abstract ]

Authors

  1. Al Pfister (Western WildScapes, LLC)
  2. Bob Williams (ICF)
  3. Leo Lentsch (ICF International)

Topic Areas

Evaluating novel approaches (e.g., conceptual, methodological, technological) to avoiding, , Bats , Birds , Eagles , Raptors , Prairie grouse , Big game , Threatened or endangered species , U.S. - No Specific Region , Mitigation

Session

00 » Posters (12:30 - Friday, 2nd December, Centennial Ballroom)

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