MIFO IPAC Instructions

Under section 7 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA), a Federal agency or its designated representative must determine whether their proposed projects may affect threatened and endangered species or designated critical habitat. In addition to the ESA, section 404 of the Clean Water Act of 1977 (CWA) regulates the discharge of dredged or fill material into waters (including wetlands) of the United States. Regulations require that activities permitted under the CWA (including wetland permits issued by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy) do not jeopardize the continued existence of species listed as endangered or threatened.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) developed the online Information for Planning and Consultation ( IPaC IPaC
Information for Planning and Consultation (IPaC) is a project planning tool that streamlines the USFWS environmental review process

Learn more about IPaC ) tool to help streamline the ESA review process. IPaC can assist users through the section 7 consultation process when a Federal agency authorizes, funds, permits, or carries out an action. Other project proponents without a Federal nexus may also use IPaC to review proposed projects for potential impacts to Federally-listed threatened and endangered species. The following instructions outline the process for how to use IPaC to obtain an official species list and use available assisted determination keys in order to help them make determinations on effects to listed species.

This guide is intended to help Federal action agencies or their designated representatives, project proponents, and consultants complete project reviews under the ESA and obtain official documentation to ensure that their proposed projects will be in compliance with the ESA. These instructions were developed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)’s Michigan Ecological Services Field Office (MIFO) for projects located in the state of Michigan and may not be applicable to other states.