Webinar: Compliance and Risk Avoidance Strategies for Possible Northern Long-Eared Bat ESA Listing

Please join Stoel Rives LLP and Western Ecosystems Technology, Inc. on Thursday, December 11, at 9 a.m. PT for an update on the proposed listing of the Northern Long-eared bat. Sharing their insights will be attorneys Barbara Craig and Sarah Stauffer Curtiss, ecologist Todd Mattson, and bat biologist Jeff Gruver. Given the imminent listing, forest products companies within the bat’s range should be assessing risk and working on compliance strategies.

On October 2, 2013, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (“Service”) proposed to list the Northern Long-eared bat as endangered throughout its 39-state range. On November 18th, 2014, the Service announced in the Federal Register that it is reopening the public comment period. Comments are due December 18th. A final listing decision is expected in April 2015. Listing triggers a range of protective measures under Section 9 of the ESA, which prohibits any person from “taking” an endangered species. In addition, for projects being developed on federal land or requiring federal permits or authorizations, a listing decision will trigger the provisions of Section 7 of the ESA, which prohibits a federal agency from authorizing, funding or carrying out any action unless the agency can ensure that the action (1) “is not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of any” listed and (2) is not likely to “result in the destruction or adverse modification of” designated critical habitat for such species.

In this presentation, you will:

• Learn about the biology of the species, including habitat requirements and identified threats to species.
• Identify methods for assessing presence.
• Understand the legal risks associated with the proposed listing of the Northern long-eared bat as endangered under the ESA.
• Discuss a range of compliance strategies.