U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is proposing to allow nine oil and gas companies to kill bats

MUST READ & SIGN... do it now! ; )

http://www.delawareriverkeeper.org/save-imperiled-bats-destruction

Save imperiled bats from destruction: Don’t let the gas and oil industry rollback federal protections!
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) is proposing to allow nine oil and gas companies to kill bats from five species, including endangered and threatened species, for 50 years. The Scoping period for a yet-to-be drafted Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is open for public comment through December 27, 11:59 pm.

https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2016-28336/p-2

The endangered Indiana Bat, threatened northern long-eared bat, eastern small-footed bat, little brown bat, and tri-colored bat would be included in the “Incidental Take Permit”. The companies will have to prepare a “Multi-State Habitat Conservation Plan”.  The destruction of these bats and their habitat would include all stages of gas and oil exploration and development in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia including gas well sites, pipelines, access roads, frack pits and holding ponds.

The oil and gas industry is attempting to steamroll over current protections in the law that have spared these bats the loss of the trees and other habitats they require. For instance, prohibition of tree-cutting during critical stages of the bats’ life cycle can halt tree cutting for a gas or oil pipeline or fracking well pad. The removal of the shields now afforded these vulnerable animals can endanger the survival not only of individuals but of entire species struggling to survive. As the threat of a new era of drilling and fracking frenzy looms with the incoming federal administration, these bats need protection more now than ever.

Don’t let the industry get its way – we are the only defense these special creatures have!

There are five public meetings in the coming weeks at locations in PA, OH and WVA where a “brief presentation” about this will be made at 6:00pm and a public webinar on Dec. 20. Go here:

https://www.fws.gov/northeast/ecologicalservices/hcp/oghcp.html

UPDATE 11/12/2016

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Comment Tracking Number: xxxxxx
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Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS)
Document Type: Rulemaking
Title: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement; notice of public scoping meetings; request for comments.
Document ID: FWS-R5-ES-2016-0135-0001
Comment:
I oppose the destruction of bats and their habitat by gas and oil companies, as is being considered by the Service. I oppose the development of a proposal for an "Incidental Take Permit" and advocate that an Environmental Impact Statement provide comprehensive analysis of alternative actions that will not allow the taking of bats.