Habitat Conservation Planning Handbook

This is a joint U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries or NMFS) handbook. Some material, such as the complete list of endangered plants and animals, is not available in this online version. The full version of the handbook is available from the Endangered Species Program, Washington D.C. Questions on the contents of the handbook should be directed to the Fish and Wildlife Service Regional Office nearest you.

Page numbers in this electronic version may not match the printed version due to formatting requirements.

The handbook has been augmented with an addendum, which was released in its final form on June 01, 2000.

Please note: The handbook files below are in “portable document format”. To view PDFdocuments, you may need to download and install the Adobe Acrobat Reader, free from Adobe, Inc.

Cover Page, Table of Contents, Preface
Chapter 1 The ESA and incidental take permits
Chapter 2 Overview of FWS and NMFS roles
Chapter 3 Pre-application coordination and HCP development
Chapters 4 & 5 Treatment of unlisted species / environmental analysis and documentation
Chapter 6 Application requirements and processing procedure
Chapters 7 & 8 Issuance criteria for incidental take permits / definitions
Appendix 1 (not currently available on-line)
Appendix 2 Reference list of publications on HCPs and Conservation Biology
Appendix 3 Example of an HCP Memorandum of Understanding
Appendix 4 “Template” implementing agreeement
Appendix 5 FWS guidance on addressing migratory birds and eagles
Appendix 6 FWS guidance on integrating HCPs with National Wildlife Refuges
Appendix 7 Safe Harbor policy
Appendix 8 Example of an integrated HCP/EA
Appendix 9 (incomplete)
Appendix 10 General permit conditions (from CFR)
Appendix 11 Endangered and threatened species permit conditions (from CFR)
Appendix 12 FWS and NMFS regional offices
Appendix 13 (not currently available on-line)
Appendix 14 (not currently available on-line)
Appendix 15 FWS Federal fish and wildlife permit
Appendix 16 Examples of received application and NEPA document availability notices from the Federal Register
Appendix 17 Examples of issued incidental take permits
Appendix 18 “Template” Federal Register notice of permit issuance

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