Name: Endangered Species Act Compliance Tools Under Section 10: Habitat Conservation Plans and Conservation Benefit Agreements (Part 1 of 2)
Start: 2025-07-17T08:30:00-0400
End: 2025-07-17T10:10:00-0400

You will be able to validate your attendance (Check-In to sessions) using your personal schedule.

Thursday July 17, 2025 8:30am - 10:10am EDT

Caxambus 1-2

This course provides an overview of the latest developments and best practices in tools available to non-federal entities to comply with the federal Endangered Species Act. Section 10 of the ESA allows for incidental take permits or enhancement of survival permits that provide durable, long-term regulatory assurances that are not available under the federal consultation process of ESA Section 7. These tools have been widely used across the country but less so in Florida. This course will provide a roadmap for how to consider these tools for your projects, lessons learned from successful plans, and pitfalls to avoid. The panel will also discuss how recent court decisions and regulatory changes may influence this key provision of the ESA. Highly relevant case studies will be provided from Florida, the eastern United States, and around the country.

Speakers

Niki Desjardin

Co-President, Ecological Associates, Inc.

Niki has over 20 years of experience managing protected species monitoring programs and coordinating/conducting field work in Florida. Her expertise is in sea turtle nesting beach management, shorebird/seabird conservation, and habitat conservation planning. Please ask Niki about... Read More →

Brian Levey

Counsel, Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP

Brian advises clients on matters that arise under the Clean Water Act (CWA), Endangered Species Act (ESA), National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and other environmental statutes. He assists applicants in obtaining and defending federal permits for complicated energy and development... Read More →

Holly Andreotta

Lead Wildlife Biologist, Permitting and Compliance, South Florida Water Management District

Holly Andreotta has over 20 years of experience overseeing permitting and compliance for multiple large-scale Everglades restoration projects at the South Florida Water Management District with an emphasis on managing, protecting, surveying, and monitoring of protected state and federal... Read More →

Raoul Boughton

Lead Ecologist, Mosaic

I am a scientist and believe in the science method and facts over conjecture. My personal goal is: To discover solutions for humans, their industries and lifestyles, to co-exist with the amazing world of wildlife and habitats with whom they share the planet. I am energetic, easy... Read More →

David Zippin

Practice Lead, Habitat Conservation Planning, ICF

I lead ICF's large Practice in habitat conservation planning and implementation, including state and federal Endangered Species Act compliance for state and local governments, utilities, energy companies, and private developers. I oversee and lead large, complex biodiversity and habitat... Read More →

Jose Rivera

Manager, Division of Environmental review, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Jose started his Federal career as a student Park Ranger with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) at Saylorville Lake, in Johnston, Iowa in 1998. After a few years working in recreation, interpretation, water safety and natural resource management, he headed South to Florida... Read More →

Tim Day

Deputy Director, Escambia County

Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) plan development and implementation, coastal restoration, beach nourishment, listed species protection/regulation, wetland restoration

Crissy Sutter

Principal Bat Biologist, ICF

Crissy Sutter, serves as the Principal Bat Biologist and bat subject matter expert at ICF, where she leads efforts across energy, transportation, and conservation planning projects. She provides strategic, science-based guidance to clients navigating the evolving regulatory landscape... Read More →

Thursday July 17, 2025 8:30am - 10:10am EDT
Caxambus 1-2

Wildlife & Habitat Conservation