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HomeMy WebLinkAbout20240475 Ver 1_R-5711 - IPaC Official Species List_20240327United States Department of the Interior FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE Asheville Ecological Services Field Office 160 Zillicoa Street, Suite B Asheville, NC 28801-1082 Phone: (828) 258-3939 Fax: (828) 258-5330 In Reply Refer To: Project Code: 2024-0064712 Project Name: R-5711 03/19/2024 13:40:38 UTC Subject: List of threatened and endangered species that may occur in your proposed project location or may be affected by your proposed project To Whom It May Concern: The enclosed species list identifies threatened, endangered, proposed, and candidate species, as well as proposed and final designated critical habitat, that may occur within the boundary of your proposed project and/or may be affected by your proposed project. The species list fulfills the requirements of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) under section 7(c) of the Endangered Species Act (Act) of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). New information based on updated surveys, changes in the abundance and distribution of species, changed habitat conditions, or other factors could change this list. Please feel free to contact us if you need more current information or assistance regarding the potential impacts to federally proposed, listed, and candidate species and federally designated and proposed critical habitat. Please note that under 50 CFR 402.12(e) of the regulations implementing section 7 of the Act, the accuracy of this species list should be verified after 90 days. This verification can be completed formally or informally as desired. The Service recommends that verification be completed by visiting the IPaC website at regular intervals during project planning and implementation for updates to species lists and information. An updated list may be requested through IPaC by completing the same process used to receive the enclosed list. The purpose of the Act is to provide a means whereby threatened and endangered species and the ecosystems upon which they depend may be conserved. Under sections 7(a)(1) and 7(a)(2) of the Act and its implementing regulations (50 CFR 402 et seq.), Federal agencies are required to utilize their authorities to carry out programs for the conservation of threatened and endangered species and to determine whether projects may affect threatened and endangered species and/or designated critical habitat. A Biological Assessment is required for construction projects (or other undertakings having similar physical impacts) that are major Federal actions significantly affecting the quality of the human environment as defined in the National Environmental Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 4332(2) (c)). For projects other than major construction activities, the Service suggests that a biological Project code: 2024-0064712 03/19/2024 13:40:38 UTC evaluation similar to a Biological Assessment be prepared to determine whether the project may affect listed or proposed species and/or designated or proposed critical habitat. Recommended contents of a Biological Assessment are described at 50 CFR 402.12. If a Federal agency determines, based on the Biological Assessment or biological evaluation, that listed species and/or designated critical habitat may be affected by the proposed project, the agency is required to consult with the Service pursuant to 50 CFR 402. In addition, the Service recommends that candidate species, proposed species and proposed critical habitat be addressed within the consultation. More information on the regulations and procedures for section 7 consultation, including the role of permit or license applicants, can be found in the "Endangered Species Consultation Handbook" at: https://www.fws.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ endan ered-species-consultation-handbook.pdf Migratory Birds: In addition to responsibilities to protect threatened and endangered species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), there are additional responsibilities under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) and the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act (BGEPA) to protect native birds from project -related impacts. Any activity, intentional or unintentional, resulting in take of migratory birds, including eagles, is prohibited unless otherwise permitted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (50 C.F.R. Sec. 10.12 and 16 U.S.C. Sec. 668(a)). For more information regarding these Acts, see Migratory Bird Permit I What We Do I U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (fws.gov). The MBTA has no provision for allowing take of migratory birds that may be unintentionally killed or injured by otherwise lawful activities. It is the responsibility of the project proponent to comply with these Acts by identifying potential impacts to migratory birds and eagles within applicable NEPA documents (when there is a federal nexus) or a Bird/Eagle Conservation Plan (when there is no federal nexus). Proponents should implement conservation measures to avoid or minimize the production of project -related stressors or minimize the exposure of birds and their resources to the project -related stressors. For more information on avian stressors and recommended conservation measures, see https://www.fws.gov/library/collections/threats-birds. In addition to MBTA and BGEPA, Executive Order 13186: Responsibilities of Federal Agencies to Protect Migratory Birds, obligates all Federal agencies that engage in or authorize activities that might affect migratory birds, to minimize those effects and encourage conservation measures that will improve bird populations. Executive Order 13186 provides for the protection of both migratory birds and migratory bird habitat. For information regarding the implementation of Executive Order 13186, please visit https://www.fws. ov/partner/council-conservation- mi ratory-birds. We appreciate your concern for threatened and endangered species. The Service encourages Federal agencies to include conservation of threatened and endangered species into their project planning to further the purposes of the Act. Please include the Consultation Code in the header of this letter with any request for consultation or correspondence about your project that you submit to our office. Attachment(s): • Official Species List 2of7 Project code: 2024-0064712 03/19/2024 13:40:38 UTC OFFICIAL SPECIES LIST This list is provided pursuant to Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act, and fulfills the requirement for Federal agencies to "request of the Secretary of the Interior information whether any species which is listed or proposed to be listed may be present in the area of a proposed action". This species list is provided by: Asheville Ecological Services Field Office 160 Zillicoa Street, Suite B Asheville, NC 28801-1082 (828) 258-3939 3 of 7 Project code: 2024-0064712 03/19/2024 13:40:38 UTC PROJECT SUMMARY Project Code: 2024-0064712 Project Name: R-5711 Project Type: Road/Hwy - Maintenance/Modification Project Description: US 21 - AT INTERSECTION OF US 21 AND SR 2375 (HOUSTON ROAD)/SR 1312 (FLOWER HOUSE ROAD). REALIGN AND SIGNALIZE. Project Location: The approximate location of the project can be viewed in Google Maps: https: www. google.com/maps/Q35.679281950000004,-80.85857036991283,14z Syr �h ��fy9 �5'o'�k f'ff pk Counties: Iredell County, North Carolina 4of7 Project code: 2024-0064712 03/19/2024 13:40:38 UTC ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT SPECIES There is a total of 5 threatened, endangered, or candidate species on this species list. Species on this list should be considered in an effects analysis for your project and could include species that exist in another geographic area. For example, certain fish may appear on the species list because a project could affect downstream species. IPaC does not display listed species or critical habitats under the sole jurisdiction of NOAA Fisheriesi, as USFWS does not have the authority to speak on behalf of NOAA and the Department of Commerce. See the "Critical habitats" section below for those critical habitats that lie wholly or partially within your project area under this office's jurisdiction. Please contact the designated FWS office if you have questions. NOAA Fisheries, also known as the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), is an office of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration within the Department of Commerce. 5 of 7 Project code: 2024-0064712 03/19/2024 13:40:38 UTC MAMMALS NAME STATUS Tricolored Bat Perimyotis subflavus Proposed No critical habitat has been designated for this species. Endangered Species profile: https:Hecos.fws.gov/ecp/species/10515 REPTILES NAME STATUS Bog Turtle Glyptemys muhlenbergii Similarity of Population: U.S.A. (GA, NC, SC, TN, VA) Appearance No critical habitat has been designated for this species. (Threatened) Species profile: https:Hecos.fws.gov/ecp/species/6962 INSECTS NAME STATUS Monarch Butterfly Danaus plexippus Candidate No critical habitat has been designated for this species. Species profile: https:Hecos.fws.gov/ecp/species/9743 FLOWERING PLANTS NAME STATUS Dwarf -flowered Heartleaf Hexastylis nani flora Threatened No critical habitat has been designated for this species. Species profile: https:Hecos.fws.gov/ecp/species/2458 Schweinitz's Sunflower Helianthus schweinitzii Endangered No critical habitat has been designated for this species. Species profile: https:Hecos.fws.gov/ecp/species/3849 CRITICAL HABITATS THERE ARE NO CRITICAL HABITATS WITHIN YOUR PROJECT AREA UNDER THIS OFFICE'S JURISDICTION. YOU ARE STILL REQUIRED TO DETERMINE IF YOUR PROJECT(S) MAY HAVE EFFECTS ON ALL ABOVE LISTED SPECIES. 6of7 Project code: 2024-0064712 03/19/2024 13:40:38 UTC IPAC USER CONTACT INFORMATION Agency: North Carolina Department of Transportation Name: Jeffrey Wyatt Address: 1710 E. Marion Street City: Shelby State: NC Zip: 28151 Email jlwyatt@ncdot.gov Phone: 9805524219 LEAD AGENCY CONTACT INFORMATION Lead Agency: Army Corps of Engineers 7of7