The Service initiated a public scoping process to take public input on all aspects of eagle management, including permit terms and conditions, mitigation, cultural resources, research, and management objectives. The Service held four formal public input meetings and solicited public comment via Regulations.gov.
The purpose of the public scoping process was to determine relevant issues that could influence the scope of the analysis, including alternatives, and guide the process for developing an environmental assessment (EA) or programmatic environmental impact statement (PEIS) and related compliance efforts. Factors currently considered for analysis in the EA or PEIS included:
- The direct, indirect, and cumulative effects that implementation of any reasonable alternative could have on bald and golden eagles, migratory birds, other wildlife species, and their habitats
- Direct, indirect, and cumulative effects of projects that are likely to take a minimal number of eagles and as such can be classified as “low-risk” or “low effect” and for which permitting at the individual project level could be expedited
- Effects on cultural resources
- Potentially significant impacts on biological resources, land use, air quality, water quality, water resources, economics, and other environmental/historical resources
- Strategies for avoiding, minimizing, and mitigating the impacts to eagles, migratory birds, wildlife, and other resources listed above
- Climate change effects
The Service received 517 unique comments during the public comment period. Approximately 213 people attended the meetings, and all were encouraged to submit written comments. Representatives from the Service were available to answer participants’ questions and listen to their ideas and concerns. Most of the discussions and comments could be categorized into eight major thematic areas:
- General comments against the killing of eagles (or for eagle protection)
- Proposed 30-year permit is too long (or keep the permit length at 5 years)
- Other permit length comments
- Falconry concerns or changes to eagle take for falconry
- Comments generally anti-wind energy facilities
- Comments generally pro-wind energy facilities
- A need exists for more research (or there is not enough information)
- Form letters originating from an organization, but sent by individuals
Visualize and explore public comments
Read public comments
Download public scoping meeting and comments report
Download Federal Register Notice Eagle Permits; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment or an Environmental Impact Statement, June 23, 2014
