Developing a Biological Assessment

Target Audience:

Federal action agency employees and their representatives, including state natural resource agencies, who provide section 7 biological assessments to the Fish and Wildlife Service and NOAA Fisheries.

Summary and Objectives:

Have you been frustrated by the Fish and Wildlife Service and/or NOAA Fisheries always asking you for additional information regarding your project’s impacts to species listed under the Endangered Species Act? Then this two-day course was designed for you! Participants will learn what’s needed in a Biological Assessment (BA) to greatly reduce your consultation time and exasperation levels. This course will provide participants with the knowledge and skills to identify and develop the multiple components of a BA; the information required to provide to the Services (USFWS and NOAA Fisheries); and the coordination and collaboration needed with the Services to successfully submit the BA and determine what consultation procedures to follow. We will also demonstrate FWS internet resources to help you build your BA.

Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:

• develop a thorough project description.
• determine the project action area action area
  All areas to be affected directly or indirectly by the federal action and not merely the immediate area involved in the action.
  
  Learn more about action area .
• identify and analyze effects to listed species and their critical habitat.
• make science-based effects determinations through the use of FWS-developed effect pathways for species.
• acquire a species list from IPaC IPaC
  Information for Planning and Consultation (IPaC) is a project planning tool that streamlines the USFWS environmental review process
  
  Learn more about IPaC and determine which species may be impacted.

Competency Addressed:

Biology - Basic, Conservation Biology - Basic, Ecology - Basic