Requesting an Endangered Species Project Review

Step 1: Request an official species list for your project area through the Service’s Information for Planning and Consultation (IPaC) system (https://ecos.fws.gov/ipac/).  

  • When creating a project name in IPaC we ask that you use the following format:  name of consulting firm (if applicable) - agency or project proponent (if known) - project name - any project code. 

Step 2: Evaluate Applicable Determination Keys (dKeys)

  • Click on “Next Step: Determination Keys.”  You may be presented with one or more dKeys that may streamline your consultation process. 
  • If the “All Ohio Determination Key” is available, we recommend that you utilize it. Use of this key may generate an immediate technical assistance letter and preclude the need for further coordination with our office.
  • Use of the Northern Long-eared Bat Range-wide Determination Key is not recommended for any project in Ohio at this time. 
  • Use of the Consultation Package Builder in IPaC is not recommended for most projects in Ohio at this time. 
  • The FHWA Determination Dey for Indiana and Northern long-eared bat (NLEB) may be used for Federal Highways projects. 

Step 3: Review Official Species List and dKey letters to determine if additional coordination is needed.

  • If the All Ohio Determination Key is NOT available for your project, or if the letter resulting from the All Ohio Determination Key indicates that the proposed action falls outside the scope of the dKey, then the project description, map, and IPaC Official Species List should be submitted to Ohio@fws.gov for review, with the subject line: Project submittal for review (IPaC#xxxx-xxxxxx). 
  • You must attach a copy of your IPaC-generated species list to your email.  
  • The Ohio Ecological Services Field Office will send a response email within approximately 30 days of receipt with technical assistance or further recommendations for specific species. 

For more detail instructions, please see the following document: OHFO IPaC Instructions

After receiving our email response if you have questions or need additional coordination:  

  • Please email Ohio@fws.gov or the biologist assigned to the project (if known).  
  • Please include the IPaC Consultation Code in the email subject line and a copy of your IPaC output letter in your email to help expedite our review.