40 Implementation Guidance 



the Service determined acquisition priorities, the Service developed the 

 Land Acquisition Priority System to provide an objective and uniform 

 approach for establishing Service land acquisition priorities. LAPS is 

 designed to result in a prioritized ranking of projects to assist 

 decisionmakers in acquisition planning and developing budget 

 proposals. 



LAPS addresses land acquisition projects falling within four Service 

 target (i.e., resource planning) areas: endangered species (SE); 

 migratory birds (MB); nationally significant wildlife habitats (NSWH); 

 and nationally significant wetlands (NSW). LAPS provides numerical 

 project and budget scores that can be compared for ranking purposes. For 

 the species-related targets (SE and MB), criteria under habitat and species 

 categories are applied to species or populations known to use a proposed 

 acquisition site. For habitat-related targets (NSWH and NSW), criteria 

 are applied to a proposed project area under diversity of species or Service 

 objectives and habitat trends categories. 



The NSW target was developed to be consistent with the Act and has been 

 modified to be consistent with the final NWPCP. The NSW target 

 addresses acquisition of wetlands for all the services and products they 

 provide without greater priority consideration given to one functional 

 value over another. 



Service Regional Wetlands Concept Plans will provide lists of wetland 

 sites in each State warranting consideration for acquisition. The NSW 

 target of LAPS will be used to rank wetlands appearing on lists in the 

 Concept Plans for acquisition planning and budgeting purposes. 



d. Fish and Wadlife Service Mitigation Policy 



The Service Mitigation Policy {Federal Register 46(15), January 23, 

 1981), provides a systematic method to determine appropriate mitigation 

 for fish and wildlife impacts resulting from development projects. 

 Mitigation elements include avoiding the impact, minimizing the impact 

 by selecting least damaging alternatives, rectifying the impact by 

 repairing or restoring the environment, and replacing unavoidable 

 habitat losses based on the relative value of the affected habitat. 



In those cases where application of the Service Mitigation Policy indicates 

 that acquisition with restoration or enhancement as compensatory 

 mitigation is acceptable, wetlands meeting NWPCP Threshold Criteria 

 or appearing on State or Federal lists developed in consistency with the 

 NWPCP should be evaluated and recommended by the Service. 



