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Endangered
Species
Project Review for Projects with Federal Involvement (authorizing, funding or carrying out the project) |
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The following information is designed to assist applicants or project sponsors in determining whether a federally-listed, proposed and/or candidate species may occur within the proposed project area and whether it is appropriate to contact our office for additional coordination or consultation. We encourage you to print out all materials used in the analyses of effects on listed, proposed or candidate species for your records or submission to the appropriate federal agency or our office.
Step 1. - Determine whether any listed, proposed, or candidate species (T/E species) are likely to occur within the proposed project action area based on location of the proposed project:
- Choose your state list below and review for counties in which federally-listed
species occur:
Connecticut - 12 species
Massachusetts - 14 species
New Hampshire - 13 species
Rhode Island - 8 species
Vermont - 10 species
- Contact your state Natural Heritage Program or Endangered Species Program (see
list below) for additional information on federally and state-listed
species:
Rhode Island Natural Heritage Program
Connecticut Endangered Species Program
Massachusetts Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program
Vermont Non-Game and Natural Heritage
New Hampshire Fish and Game's Non-game and Endangered Wildlife Program
New Hampshire Natural Heritage Bureau's Home Page Please note that these agencies provide
information on known occurrences; this information does not replace field
surveys, especially for plants, as most project sites have not been previously
surveyed specifically for listed species.
- If the project falls within a county where the endangered dwarf wedgemussel is known to occur, check the appropriate map to determine whether your project is in the vicinity of its known range.
Massachusetts - Connectictut River Watershed New Hampshire/Vermont - Connecticut River Watershed
Upper Connecticut River
Middle Connecticut River
Lower Connecticut River
New Hampshire - Ashuelot River Watershed
Connecticut - Connecticut River Watershed
- If a proposed project occurs in a county with no known listed, proposed or
candidate species present, no further coordination with the Service is
needed. You may download a letter stating "no species are known to occur in the project area".
- If the
proposed project occurs in a county with known occurrences of T/E species,
proceed to Step 2.
Step 2. - Determine whether any listed or proposed New England Species are likely to occur within the proposed project area by comparing the habitat present within the proposed project action area with habitat that is suitable for the species.
- Review the information we have provided, information from the appropriate state agency,
and any other sources of information available to you to determine types of
habitat the species use. A description of suitable habitat for New England's
federally-listed species may be found in
New England Species' profiles and fact sheets.
- Determine whether your proposed project action area has any potential for listed species habitat
(e.g., are suitable roost trees present? - Indiana bats; are wetlands present? - bog turtles
or Northeastern bulrush; will project affect a waterway? – dwarf wedgemussel).
After this initial coarse review, determine whether any more detailed surveys
may be appropriate (e.g., survey for dwarf wedgemussels).
- If your state Natural Heritage Program or Endangered Species Program does not identify any listed species for the proposed project AND there is no potential habitat for any listed species within the action area, no further coordination with the Service is required. You may download a letter stating "no species are known to occur in the project area".
- If you have identified that potential listed species habitat is present although the species has not been documented from that specific location, further coordination with our office is recommended. Please send the results of your assessment including any habitat surveys to:
Supervisor
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
70 Commercial St., Suite 300
Concord, NH 03301
Include in your letter:
- A detailed description of the proposed project, including approximate proposed project construction schedule and project activities (e.g., land clearing, utilities, stormwater management). Site plans are often helpful in our evaluation process.
- A description of the natural characteristics of the property and surrounding
area (e.g., forested areas, freshwater wetlands, open waters, and soils). Photographs
are often helpful in assessing the habitat. Additionally, please include a
description of surrounding land use (residential, agricultural, or
commercial).
- The location of the above referenced property and extent of any project related activities or discharges clearly indicated on a copy of a USGS 7.5 Minute Topographic Quadrangle (Quad) with the name of the Quad(s) and latitude/longitude clearly labeled.
- A description of conservation measures to avoid or minimize impacts to listed species.
Why does this matter?- In a case where no habitat is present, a quick and easy determination can be made that further coordination is not necessary. In a case where habitat is present, but you believe that the project activities will not impact listed species, it is important to coordinate with us to ensure that all project activities and all potential effects (direct and indirect) have been considered.
Please allow 30 days following our receipt of your request for processing.
Step 3. - Based on the results of the habitat survey and a description of the proposed project (including information as to whether any potential habitat may be directly or indirectly affected), the involved Federal agency may determine:
- The proposed project will result in no effect to any T/E species and no further coordination or consultation with the Service is required;
- Additional information (e.g., surveys) is required to determine whether any T/E species are likely to occur within the proposed project area; or
- The proposed project "may affect" a T/E species and consultation with the Service is required.
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