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Because of the difficulty in estimating the number whooping cranes taken by the <br />activities of the Program and the water related activities covered by this biological <br />opinion, the Service has identified a surrogate measure of take tied to the <br />performance of Milestones 5 and 6 of the Program (Land Plan and IMRP). <br />Reinitiation of consultation related to whooping crane roosting habitat issues will <br />be required if the conclusions of the Program's IV.E process are that these <br />Milestones have not been performed and neither the Governance Committee nor <br />Oversight Committee can restore the ability of the Program to provide ESA <br />compliance. <br />2. Whooping cranes could be unintentionally harassed by Program personnel or <br />aircraft monitoring whooping crane activity in the valley. Researchers will be <br />required to apply for and obtain section 10(a)(1)(A) pernuts that will contain <br />measures to minimize the effects of research on endangered species. <br />Despite the recognition that some take may be unavoidable during implementation of <br />the Program, efforts to avoid and minimize take are warranted. The following RPMs <br />will minimize incidental take. If new information becomes available that reveals a <br />proposed Program activity may affect the species in a manner or to an extent not <br />previously considered, section 7 consultation must be reinitiated on that Program <br />activity. <br />B2. Reasonable and Prudent Measures to Minimize Take <br />These RPMs are determined to be necessary to minimize take from the actions based on <br />the Service's current understanding of the species status. <br />The measures described below are non-discretionary, and must be undertaken by the <br />Department for the exemption in section 7(0)(2) to apply. The Department has a <br />continuing duty to regulate the activity covered by this incidental take statement. If <br />the Program fails to assume and implement the terms and conditions of this incidental <br />take statement, the protective coverage of section 7(0)(2) may lapse. <br />RPM 1: Surveys to document whooping crane use of the central Platte River study <br />area shall be conducted during spring and fall migrations according to the IMRP <br />protocols developed by the Program with concurrence of the Service. <br />RPM 2: Program land management activities shall be scheduled and conducted such <br />that the possibility of take caused by disturbance/harassment due to such activities is <br />reduced on areas managed by the Program. <br />B3. Terms and Conditions <br />In order to be exempt from the prohibitions of section 9 of ESA, the Program must <br />comply with the following terms and conditions, which implement the RPMs