Laserfiche WebLink
* * * * * * Final ESA Section 7 Consultation Handbook, March 1998 * * * * * * <br />species, or destroy or adversely modify proposed critical habitat; (2) designed to help Federal • <br />agencies identify and resolve potential conflicts between an action and species conservation <br />early in a project's planning; and (3) designed to develop recommendations to minimize or <br />avoid adverse effects to proposed species or proposed critical habitat. [50 CFR §402.02, 50 <br />CFR §402.10] <br />Conservation - the terms "conserve," "conserving" and "conservation" mean to use and the <br />use of all methods and procedures which are necessary to bring any endangered species or <br />threatened species to the point at which the measures provided pursuant to [the] Act are no <br />longer necessary. Such methods and procedures include, but are not limited to, all activities <br />associated with scientific resources management such as research, census, law enforcement, <br />habitat acquisition and maintenance, propagation, live trapping, and transplantation, and, in <br />the extraordinary case where population pressures within a given ecosystem cannot be <br />otherwise relieved, may include regulated taking. [ESA §3(3)] <br />Conservation measures - are actions to benefit or promote the recovery of listed species that <br />are included by the Federal agency as an integral part of the proposed action. These actions <br />will be taken by the Federal agency or applicant, and serve to minimize or compensate for, <br />project effects on the species under review. These may include actions taken prior to the <br />initiation of consultation, or actions which the Federal agency or applicant have committed to <br />complete in a biological assessment or similar document. <br />Conservation recommendations - the Services' non-binding suggestions resulting from • <br />formal or informal consultation that: (1) identify discretionary measures a Federal agency can <br />take to minimize or avoid the adverse effects of a proposed action on listed or proposed <br />species, or designated or proposed critical habitat; (2) identify studies, monitoring, or <br />research to develop new information on listed or proposed species, or designated or proposed <br />critical habitat; and (3) include suggestions on how an action agency can assist species <br />conservation as part of their action and in furtherance of their authorities under section <br />7(a)(1) of the Act. [50 CFR §402.021 <br />Constituent elements - physical and biological features of designated or proposed critical <br />habitat essential to the conservation of the species, including, but not limited to: (1) space for <br />individual and population growth, and for normal behavior; (2) food, water, air, light, <br />minerals, or other nutritional or physiological requirements; (3) cover or shelter; (4) sites for <br />breeding, reproduction, rearing of offspring, germination, or seed dispersal; and (5) habitats <br />that are protected from disturbance or are representative of the historic geographic and <br />ecological distributions of a species. [ESA §3(5)(A)(i), 50 CFR §424.12(b)] <br />Critical habitat - for listed species consists of. (1) the specific areas within the geographical <br />area occupied by the species, at the time it is listed in accordance with the provisions of <br />section 4 of the Act, on which are found those physical or biological features (constituent <br />xii 0