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eared bat, the species will be protected from take - harming, harassing, killing - and federal agencies will work to conserve the bat and its habitat as they fund, authorize or carry out activities. In addition, a recovery plan will be developed for the species.
• Before the emergence of white-nose syndrome, the northern long-eared bat was found in 39 states, including the District of Columbia, with higher abundance in the East and becoming increasingly rare moving west. Other threats to the species include wind energy development, habitat destruction or disturbance to hibernating and summer habitat, climate change, and contaminants. The Service is working with the wind energy industry to address im

pacts to imperiled bats.
• The Service is looking for comments on the proposal to list the northern long-eared bat.
• You may submit comments by one of the following methods; comments must be received by January 2, 2014.
• (1) Electronically at http://www.regulations.gov .
• In the Search box, enter Docket No. FWS-R5-ES-2011-0024, which is the docket number for the rulemaking. Then, in the Search panel on the left side of the screen, under the Document Type heading, click on the Proposed Rules link to locate this document. You may submit a comment by clicking on "Send a Comment or Submission." If your comments will fit in the provided comment box, please use this feature of http://www.regulations.gov, as it is most compatible with our comment review procedures. If you attach your comments as a separate document, our preferred file format is Microsoft Word. If you attach multiple comments (such as form letters), our preferred format is a spreadsheet in Microsoft Excel; or
• (2) By hard copy: Submit by U.S. mail or hand-delivery to:
• Public Comments Processing, Attn: FWS-R5-ES-2011-0024

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