Final NLE Bat Ruling Released, Will Allow Most Forestry Activity

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service finalized its decision to list the northern long eared bat as a threatened species and the rules surrounding its protection, and forestry professionals should continue to monitor the situation and implementation, said the Hardwood Federation.

The finalized rule maintains a number of concessions made to the forestry industry via the interim 4(d) rule, and the prohibition of cutting around known maternity roost trees was reduced from a quarter mile radius to a radius of 150 feet.

The finalized rule also maintains the year-round harvesting prohibition for trees within a quarter mile of a known hibernacula for the bat. The Hardwood Federation said there is some concern, however, that this portion of the rule has been changed from a "known occupied hibernacula" to "known hibernacula." It is asking the USFWS for clarification.

Next steps include making sure the program is implemented in a way that does not unduly burden the forestry industry.

"Getting to the final rule has been a long, at times frustrating process," said Dana Cole, Hardwood Federation executive director, in a statement. "However our work is not yet done."
 
The final rule can be viewed in the Federal Register. For more background on the northern long eared bat, read the HF Green Blog post here.