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<br />030274 <br /> <br />a. Consultation Processes. <br /> <br />(1) Conferencing. <br /> <br />(a) Section 7 (a) (4) requires that a <br />conference be conducted when a <br />federal action is likely to <br />jeopardize the continued existence <br />of a proposed species (one that has <br />been proposed for listing in a <br />formal rulemaking) or result in the <br />destruction or adverse modification <br />of proposed critical habitat. 16 <br />U.S.C. & 1536(a) (4); 50 C.F.R. <br />&402.l0(a). <br /> <br />(b) The purpose of a conference is to <br />determine at an early stage whether <br />an action is likely to have <br />significant adverse effects on the <br />species or habitat, and to identify <br />ways to minimize or avoid those <br />adverse effects. 50 C.F.R. & <br />402.10(a), (c). <br /> <br />(c) Such conferences may be informal, <br />or, at the action agency's request, <br />may be formal. A formal conference <br />report may serve as a biological <br />opinion if the listing rule is <br />finalized, unless new information <br />becomes available or changes are <br />made to the action. 50 C.F.R. <br />& 402.l0(d). <br /> <br />(d) The prohibition in Section 7(d) <br />against the commitment of resources <br />that would foreclose development of <br />reasonable and prudent alternatives <br />does not apply during conferences. <br /> <br />(e) Incidental take statements may be <br />provided as part of formal <br />conferences, but are neither <br />necessary nor effective until the <br />final listing action occurs. 50 <br />C.F.R. & 402.l0(d). <br /> <br />7 <br />