SPOKANE, WA (09/11/06) -- The U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service has published a Notice of Availability 
of the Draft Template Safe Harbor Agreement, Draft Environmental Assessment and Receipt of Applications for Enhancement of Survival permits for the Columbia Basin pygmy rabbit in the Federal Register.  The announcement of these documents for public review opens a 30-day comment period.

This innovative Safe Harbor Agreement approach provides a process for participants to voluntarily contribute to state and federal recovery efforts for the endangered Columbia Basin pygmy rabbit while avoiding the threat of 'incidental take' under the Endangered Species Act.

The proposed template Safe Harbor Agreement addresses the incidental take of Columbia Basin pygmy rabbits that could result from activities associated with ranching, farming, recreation, residential upkeep, conservation programs and direct management of shrub steppe habitat on non-federal properties. The duration of the proposed template Agreement is 20 years.

In addition to submitting a Safe Harbor permit application, prospective participants would also need to develop a Site Plan, in cooperation with the Service, that identifies the specific properties to be enrolled and documents the baseline conditions, existing and proposed future land-use activities, and agreed-upon conservation measures that would be expected to provide a net conservation benefit for Columbia Basin pygmy rabbits. 

In exchange for implementing conservation measures, participants will be provided with 'regulatory assurances' that they will not be subject to future land-use restrictions or additional management requirements if their voluntary actions result in increased numbers or distribution of the species on their enrolled property.

The area covered by the proposed Safe Harbor Agreement includes portions of six counties in central Washington:  Douglas, Grant, Lincoln, Adams, Franklin and Benton. 

The Service is requesting comments from the public on the proposed template Agreement, current permit applications, and the draft EA.  All comments must be received on or before October 10, 2006.