Electric utilities interested in receiving mitigation funds to retrofit high-risk poles for eagles should  register with the Eagle ILF Program to become eligible as Retrofitting Providers. Retrofits conducted through this program serve to offset new incidental take occurring elsewhere in the eagle population and assist the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) in meeting their obligations to preserve eagles under Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act.

The Eagle ILF Program carefully evaluates the qualifications and of each electric utility to determine eligibility as Retrofitting Providers. Preference will be given to utilities that meet the following criteria:

• Avian Protection Plan: Participating electric utilities should have an Avian Protection Plan (APP) written within the previous 10 years. The APP should provide detailed retrofitting plans using eagle-friendly standards developed from a risk assessment as outlined by Avian Power Line Interaction Committee guidelines (APLIC 2006, APLIC and USFWS 2005).
• Accelerate Retrofitting Plan: Electric utilities should be able to document that funds from the ILF Program will accelerate their current retrofitting activities to achieve eagle-friendly circuits. Mitigation funds are intended to supplement existing retrofitting budgets, not replace them.

Utilities who do not meet these criteria may still be eligible to participate in the ILF Program at the discretion of the Eagle ILF Program and USFWS.  Considerations will include financial capacity of the utility and the conservation benefit to eagles.