USFWS Desert Tortoise General Conservation Plan
Overview of the General Conservation Plan
The general conservation plan provides a streamlined mechanism for local agencies and project applicants to meet the statutory and regulatory requirements of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended—if their proposed action is reasonably certain to result in the take of desert tortoises—while promoting conservation of the desert tortoise. “Take” is defined in the Endangered Species Act as to harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, or collect, or to attempt to engage in any such conduct.
Covered activities include commercial, agricultural, residential, industrial, and infrastructure development activities and associated operations and maintenance. Applicants may also apply for incidental take permits for the operation and maintenance of existing facilities.
The general conservation plan provides specific direction to applicants for preparing their applications for incidental take permits; in doing so, it will assist applicants in meeting the issuance criteria for an incidental take permit in a more timely and efficient manner. The general conservation plan will also substantially reduce the time and effort expended by Service staff in processing individual incidental take permits.
To make use of the general conservation plan, the covered activity must occur within the “permit area” as defined in the general conservation plan; the required mitigation must occur within the defined “mitigation area.” Applicants must also implement measures to protect desert tortoises during the course of their proposed action. Consequently, the general conservation plan’s guidance regarding the required mitigation will better incorporate that mitigation into a comprehensive strategy that contributes to recovery of the desert tortoise.