<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<section article="gnr" article_name="Natural Resources" number="10-2A-05.3" title_number="10" title_name="Wildlife" subtitle_number="2A" subtitle_name="Nongame and Endangered Species Conservation Act">
  <level label="a">
    <text>The Secretary may issue a permit to an applicant that authorizes an incidental taking of the Indiana bat, the northern long–eared bat, the tricolored bat, or the eastern small–footed bat if:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>The applicant submits a conservation plan to the Department that specifies:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>The impact that will likely result from the incidental taking;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>The steps that the applicant will take to minimize and mitigate the impact;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>The funding that will be available to implement the steps;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iv">
        <text>The alternative actions to the incidental taking that the applicant considered and the reasons that the alternatives were not used; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="v">
        <text>Any other measures that the Secretary requires as being necessary or appropriate for the purposes of the plan; and</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The Secretary finds that:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>The incidental taking will not appreciably reduce the likelihood of the survival or recovery of the Indiana bat, the northern long–eared bat, the tricolored bat, or the eastern small–footed bat in the wild;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>The applicant will, to the extent practicable, minimize and mitigate the impacts of the incidental taking;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>Adequate funding for the conservation plan is available and the plan will be implemented; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iv">
        <text>The applicant has obtained the required federal authorization for the incidental taking of the Indiana bat, the northern long–eared bat, the tricolored bat, or the eastern small–footed bat.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>The Secretary may adopt regulations to implement and enforce this section.</text>
  </level>
</section>
