201505.15PROJECTS-FINAL.pdf

This document is the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s (Service) biological opinion (Opinion)

based on our review of the biological assessment for Programmatic Restoration Opinion for Joint

Ecosystem Conservation by the Services (PROJECTS BA) (USFWS 2014) and its revision

(USFWS 2015). The PROJECTS BA was developed by the Service and the National Oceanic

and Atmospheric Administration’s Restoration Center (NOAA RC) (collectively, the Action

Agencies). This document was prepared in accordance with regulations on interagency

cooperation (50 CFR 402) pursuant to Section 7 Section 7
Section 7 Consultation The Endangered Species Act (ESA) directs all Federal agencies to work to conserve endangered and threatened species and to use their authorities to further the purposes of the Act. Section 7 of the Act, called "Interagency Cooperation," is the mechanism by which Federal agencies ensure the actions they take, including those they fund or authorize, do not jeopardize the existence of any listed species.

Learn more about Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16

U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), (as amended) (ESA), for species under the jurisdiction of the Service. The

request for formal consultation, signed by all administrative units, was received by the Service

on May 5, 2014.