What does Section 7 of the ESA require?
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Section 7 of the ESA requires Federal agencies to use their legal authorities to promote the conservation purposes of the ESA and to consult with the USFWS and NMFS, as appropriate, to ensure that effects of actions they authorize, fund, or carry out are not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of listed …
How long is a biological assessment good for?
Formal consultation may last up to 90 days, after which the Service will prepare a biological opinion. The intent of a biological opinion is to analyze the effects of the proposed action to the listed species or designated critical habitat.
How do you determine biological opinion?
Biological opinions issued since 2010 can also be found in the NOAA library repository. In addition, the Environmental Consultation System (ECO) is available to search ESA Section 7 consultations from 2017 to present.
What is the difference between informal and formal consultation?
Informal consultation is an optional process that is designed to help the applicant and the action agency determine whether formal consultation is needed. It includes all discussions, correspondence, etc., between the Services, the action agency, and the applicant, and has no specified timeframe for completion.
What is an ESA consultation?
Conducting ESA Consultation This consultation on the overarching program will provide guidance for subsequent solar projects by ensuring that the appropriate conservation measures for listed species are incorporated into project-level actions.
What is included in a biological assessment?
A biological assessment shall evaluate the potential effects of the action on listed and proposed species and designated and proposed critical habitat and determine whether any such species or habitat are likely to be adversely affected by the action and is used in determining whether formal consultation or a …
Does a biological opinion expire?
Formal Consultation and the Biological Opinion Formal consultation may last up to 90 days, after which the Service will prepare a biological opinion.
What is a biological assessment?
A biological assessment is an evaluation of the condition of a waterbody by sampling species that spend all or part of their lives in that waterbody. A biological survey is conducted to collect a representative sample of the biological community found in the waterbody.
What is the purpose of a consultation process?
Consultation is the process by which management and employees and their representatives examine and discuss issues that are of mutual concern.
What is the purpose of the consultation?
to ask their opinion (e.g. by ‘floating’ a proposal) to learn their intentions. to get their agreement to what you want. to plan together, to develop a proposal or to advance an argument and.
When do I need to request section 7 consultation?
If listed species or critical habitat may be affected, then consultation is required. We are requiring all informal Section 7 consultation requests be submitted in the Expedited consultation format starting February 1, 2022.
What if consultation cannot be concluded informally?
If consultation cannot be concluded informally because adverse effects to listed species are expected, the action agency must request formal consultation. To initiate formal consultation, the action agency must provide information specified in 50 CFR 402.14 (c) and (d); this includes:
What to do if a project changes after consultation?
If a project changes, the action agency staff member should contact the section 7 biologist who wrote the consultation letter and/or Biological Opinion. Staff should discuss the changes and the potential need for reinitiation before submitting a request for reinitiation.
How do I initiate formal consultation on a proposed action?
To initiate formal consultation, the action agency must provide information specified in 50 CFR 402.14 (c) and (d); this includes: A description of the proposed action, including any measures intended to avoid, minimize, or offset effects of the action.