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However, only those portions of the 100 -year flood plain that contain the <br />constituent elements are considered part of critical habitat. Specific <br />areas in the flood plain will be evaluated on a case -by -case basis to <br />determine if they contain the constituent elements. <br />Q. As a result of critical habitat for endangered fish, which water projects <br />will require new section 7 consultation? <br />A. When a new species, such as the razorback sucker, is listed and when <br />critical habitat is designated, re- initiation of formal consultation is <br />required where there is discretionary Federal control or involvement. <br />Consultations shall be requested by the Federal agency or by the Service. <br />"Discretionary Federal involvement or control" occurs when a Federal <br />agency operates.a facility; when a new permit is required such as for <br />repairs, or modifications; when a permit has expired and needs to be <br />renewed; and when the project receives Federal funding of any amount. <br />In general, projects that have a potential to significantly benefit or <br />harm endangered fish as well as those projects involving current or <br />pending construction or water sales will be given highest priority for <br />receiving new consultations. (The reason for prioritizing projects <br />involving pending construction or water sales is to avoid unnecessary <br />delays to the project.) <br />The Service currently is reviewing its files to identify all projects <br />that may have continued Federal involvement, as evidenced by a previous <br />formal section 7 consultation. This list of projects will be provided to <br />cooperating Federal agencies such as the Bureau of Reclamation, Soil <br />Conservation Service, Bureau of Land Management and Corps of Engineers to <br />assist in determining which projects may require re- initiation of section <br />7 consultation to address the listing of critical habitat or other new <br />information that was not previously considered. <br />Also, the Service has met with the Bureau of Reclamation to begin to <br />determine which projects will need review. As projects needing <br />consultation are identified, the Service will advise Recovery Program <br />participants and solicit their input. <br />Q. How will this critical habitat designation impact the existing Recovery <br />Program for Endangered Fish of the Upper Colorado River Basin? <br />A. In general, the intent of the Fish and Wildlife Service is for the <br />Recovery Program to provide the reasonable and prudent alternative for <br />depletion impacts of new water projects and on all impacts of existing <br />water projects. This applies both to "jeopardy" to endangered fish as <br />well as to adverse modification of critical habitat. Recovery Program <br />participants will consider changes to the Recovery Action Plan to <br />accomplish this. <br />Discharge of pollutants such as trace elements, heavy metals and <br />pesticides are not offset by the Recovery Program, nor are the direct <br />