<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".14" citation="COMAR 08.03.08.14" title_num="08" subtitle_num="03" chapter_num="08" heading="Puritan Tiger Beetle Incidental Taking.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>Permit Required. A person shall obtain a permit from the Department before the person may conduct any activity that will result in the incidental taking of Puritan tiger beetles.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>Application. To apply for a permit for the incidental taking of Puritan tiger beetles, an applicant shall submit the following information to the Department:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>A completed application form including the applicant's:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Full name;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Address of residence or business;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Birth date; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>Telephone number; and</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>A conservation plan for the site that shall include the following:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Site location information, including tax map and parcel numbers;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>A map of the site, including property boundaries, location of the cliff, and location of the proposed development;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>A description of proposed habitat alteration, including physical alteration of beach or cliff habitat;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>A description of alternatives considered and reasons that these alternatives were not used;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(e)">
        <text>A description of minimization and mitigation measures to be employed; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(f)">
        <text>A copy of the submitted federal application or approved federal authorization from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to incidentally take Puritan tiger beetles.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="C.">
    <text>Permit applications may be obtained from the Wildlife and Heritage Service, Tawes State Office Building, 580 Taylor Ave., E-1, Annapolis, Maryland 21401, or by calling 410-260-8540, or online at www.dnr.state.md.us.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="D.">
    <text>Completed applications shall be mailed or delivered to: Permits Coordinator, Wildlife and Heritage Service, Tawes State Office Building, 580 Taylor Ave., E-1, Annapolis, Maryland 21401.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="E.">
    <text>Duration. Permits for the incidental taking of Puritan tiger beetles are valid for the term specified by the Department on the permit.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="F.">
    <text>Minimization measures as described in §B(2)(e) of this regulation shall include:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Limiting construction activities during the adult breeding season of June through August in order to minimize adult tiger beetle mortality;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Limiting construction activities to the beach area and no alteration of the cliff face;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Limiting habitat alteration to a portion of the tiger beetle habitat; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>Limiting other actions that harm adult Puritan tiger beetles, larvae, or habitat.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="G.">
    <text>Mitigation.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Mitigation shall be employed whenever the habitat alteration will render a significant portion of the site unsuitable for Puritan tiger beetles in either their adult or larval life forms.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Mitigation shall occur at not less than a 1:1 ratio of linear feet of shoreline impacted.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Mitigation measures may include:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Protection of other property suitable for Puritan tiger beetle habitat by acquisition of a conservation easement that permanently prohibits shoreline stabilization of or alteration of the cliff face on the property;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Payment of any mitigation fee that may be required through the federal permitting process;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Restoration or creation of Puritan tiger beetle habitat by participating financially in the Department's Puritan tiger beetle habitat conservation program; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>Implementation of other measures that compensate for the loss of Puritan tiger beetles as a result of the incidental taking.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="H.">
    <text>A conservation easement under §G(3)(a) of this regulation shall be executed and recorded before the issuance of an incidental taking permit.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="I.">
    <text>The Department shall issue an incidental taking permit to the applicant if all of the following have been satisfied:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>The applicant has submitted the completed application form, fee, and conservation plan;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Alternatives have been considered and determined not to be feasible;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Adequate minimization or mitigation measures have been incorporated into the habitat conservation plan;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>The actions do not appreciably reduce the likelihood of the survival or recovery of the Puritan tiger beetle;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(5)">
      <text>Adequate funding for the conservation plan is available to implement the plan; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(6)">
      <text>Federal authorization to incidentally take Puritan tiger beetles has been secured by the applicant from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>