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<br />OiHl275 <br /> <br />(2) Informal Consultation. <br /> <br />(a) Informal consultations may be <br />conducted with the federal agency, <br />the applicant, or a designated non- <br />federal representative. 50 <br />C.F.R. & 402.13(a). <br /> <br />(b) The purposes of these informal <br />proceedings may be: <br /> <br />to clarify whether and what listed <br />species may be in the project area; <br /> <br />to determine what effect the project may <br />have on these species; <br /> <br />to see whether there are ways in which <br />the project can be modified so that it will <br />not adversely affect the species; and <br /> <br />to determine whether there is a need to <br />enter into formal consultation. <br /> <br />(c) If it is determined during informal <br />consultation that the project will <br />not adversely affect listed species <br />or their critical habitat, the <br />Service's written concurrence with <br />that finding ends the consultation <br />requirement of the Act. 50 C.F.R. <br />& 402.l3(a). <br /> <br />(3) Early Consultation. <br /> <br />(a) Section 7 (a) (3) of the Act allows <br />the formal consultation process to <br />occur prior to the time the actual <br />permit application is filed. 16 <br />U.S.C. & l536(a) (3). <br /> <br />(b) "Early consultation" is conducted <br />when a prospective applicant asks <br />the federal agency to request such <br />a consultation with the Service <br />prior to actual submission of a <br />permit or other application. In <br />this instance, the prospective <br />applicant must have an actual <br /> <br />8 <br />