Notice of Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for a Proposed Habitat Conservation Plan for the Endangered American Burying Beetle for American Electric Power in Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Texas

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), are notifying the public that we intend to prepare a draft environmental impact statement (EIS) to evaluate the impacts of alternatives relating to the proposed issuance of an Endangered Species Act (ESA) Incidental Take Permit (ITP) in response to the American Electric Power Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP). The ITP is needed to cover incidental take of the endangered American burying beetle (ABB) from activities associated with construction, operation, and/or maintenance of electric transmission and distribution lines or other associated infrastructure. American Electric Power (AEP) intends to apply for an ITP under the ESA and agrees to develop and implement the proposed HCP. We also are announcing the initiation of a public scoping process to engage Federal, Tribal, State, and local governments and the public in the identification of issues and concerns, potential impacts, and possible alternatives to the proposed action.