Candidate Conservation Agreements With Assurances
Candidate Conservation Agreements with Assurances involve a private landowner or non-Federal agency agreeing to some voluntary action(s) that benefits a candidate (currently not listed, but could be listed in the future) species in exchange for a guarantee that no additional regulatory restrictions related to the action(s) will be imposed by the Service or NOAA-Fisheries if the candidate species becomes listed at some time in the future. A determination is needed that benefits to the species, if implemented on other necessary properties, would preclude or remove the need to list the species.
These agreements can be with an individual (individual agreement) or to an intermediary entity which holds the “umbrella agreement” for a specific area for several landowners. The intermediary coordinates with individual landowners to develop written agreements covered by the intermediary’s umbrella agreement.
To date we have not completed a Candidate Conservation Agreement with Assurances in Nevada.
Both Safe Harbor Agreements and Candidate Conservation Agreements with Assurances require Enhancement of Survival Permits. These permits are possible through section 10(a)(1)(A) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act) because with some exceptions the Act prohibits activities affecting threatened and endangered species unless authorized by a permit from the Service or NOAA-Fisheries.
Your proposed activity may also require a state permit. You should contact your state wildlife agency for additional information. Obtaining a Service permit is contingent upon obtaining any required state permit.
For more information about candidate conservation, visit our national
Non-Federal entities must obtain an incidental take permit for taking of a listed species incidentally to an otherwise lawful activity. These incidental take permits are possible through section 10(a)(1)(B) of the Act. This section 10 process involves three phases: development of a Habitat Conservation Plan phase, a formal permit processing phase, and a post-issuance phase.
Recovery and Interstate Commerce Permits
Recovery and interstate commerce permits provide a means to obtain authorization to conduct some form of take of a listed species and are associated with activities such as captive breeding and research to further the recovery of a listed species. These permits are possible through section 10(a)(1)(A) of the Act.
For more information about these various permits for our native species, see our website at www.fws.gov/endangered/permits.