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These documents transmit the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s (USFWS) issuance of an Endangered Species Act (ESA) section 10(a)(1)(A) recovery permit (permit) to Empire District Electric Company (applicant) and effects to the Federally endangered gray bat (Myotis grisescens).

The USFWS worked collaboratively with the applicant to develop the study plan submitted as part of the application for the permit. The purpose of the study plan is to evaluate the effectiveness of Activity-Based Informed Curtailment (ABIC) at reducing bat fatalities at wind energy facilities. The USFWS recognizes the value of the research objectives outlined in the study plan, and the results of this study are expected to provide information on the efficacy of the ABIC method, such that, if demonstrated successful, it could be used as a conservation strategy at other wind facilities.Specifically, the results are expected to answer the question of whether 1) exposed bat activity (that is, bat activity recorded when turbine rotors are spinning) at the turbine nacelle is a reliable predictor of bat fatalities, and if so, 2) can ABIC be designed to successfully reduce bat fatalities by a predetermined rate

Permit Number: ESPER0011726

FWS POC: Kris Budd

This collection includes the following documents:

• Federal Permit - ESPER0011726
• 10 (a)(1)(A) Scientific Research Study Plan
• Biological Opinion
• Categorical Exclusion

Publications associated with this Permit:

• Peterson, Trevor; Adam Rusk, Caroline Byrne, Seta Aghababian, and Sydney Edwards. 2025. Acoustic Exposure reveals variation in curtailment effectiveness at reducing bat fatality at wind turbines. ECOSPHERE 16:e70277.

An annual report of all activities conducted under the authority of this permit is due by January 31 following each year this permit is in effect. Copies of these reports are available below: