DNR Seeking Public Comment For Statewide Incidental Take Notice

MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) proposes to issue a Broad Incidental Take Permit/Authorization (BITP/A) for the incidental taking of state endangered and threatened species that may occur as a result of surveys, removals and propagation that are required for regulatory purposes.

In this situation, incidental taking refers to the pursuit and catching of animals for the purposes of surveys and removals, as well as the removal and propagation of plants at a construction site.

The DNR recognizes that surveys, removals and propagation are often required for regulatory projects to minimize impacts to endangered and threatened species. Because these activities occur regularly with identical conservation measures, the DNR proposes issuing this Broad Incidental Take Permit/Authorization for Regulatory Removals. An Incidental Take Permit/Authorization is typically issued on a project-by-project basis; however, a Broad Incidental Take Permit/Authorization is used for projects that occur routinely on the landscape and have identical conservation measures.

The DNR concludes that the proposed work will minimize impacts to the species by adhering to conservation measures, is not likely to jeopardize the continued existence or appreciably reduce the likelihood of the survival and/or recovery of the state population of the species or the whole plant-animal community of which they are a part and the habitat that is critical to their existence, and has benefit to the public health, safety or welfare that justifies the action.

Conservation measures to minimize the adverse effect on the endangered and threatened species will be incorporated into the proposed Regulatory Removals Broad Incidental Take Permit/Authorization. Copies of the jeopardy assessment and background information on the species are available by visiting the DNR Incidental Take Public Notices webpage or upon request from DNR Conservation Biologist Rori Paloski at 608-516-3742 or Rori.Paloski@wi.gov.

The public is encouraged to submit written comments regarding this proposed Broad Incidental Take Permit/Authorization by Dec. 16, 2022 to:

Department of Natural Resources
c/o Rori Paloski, DNR Conservation Biologist
101 S. Webster St. Madison, WI 53707
Rori.Paloski@wisconsin.gov or 608-516-3742