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<br />000276 <br /> <br /> <br />proposal that can be addressed and <br />must certify that it intends to <br />implement the proposal. 50 C.F.R. <br />& 402.1l(b). This form of <br />consultation results in a <br />preliminary biological opinion <br />which is used at an early stage to <br />determine the potential effect on <br />listed species and the project <br />modifications that may be needed to <br />obtain the permit. No take of the <br />species or its habitat is <br />authorized by this preliminary <br />opinion. 50 C.F.R. & 402.11(e). <br /> <br />(4) Formal Consultation. <br /> <br />la) When an action agency determines <br />that a proposed action may <br />adversely affect a listed species <br />or its critical habitat, the agency <br />enters into formal consultation <br />with the Service. 50 C.F.R. <br />& 402.14 (a). The consultation <br />generally concludes with the <br />issuance of a biological opinion <br />and a determination of jeopardy/no <br />jeopardy. 50 C.F.R. & 402.14(g). <br /> <br />(b) The biological opinion must be <br />based on the best scientific and <br />commercial data available. 16 <br />U.S.C. & 1536(a) (2); 50 C.F.R. & <br />402.14 (g) (8). The opinion is <br />supposed to be the Service's <br />scientific assessment of the effect <br />of the proposed action on the <br />species or critical habitat, based <br />on the data provided by the agency <br />and otherwise available. 50 C.F.R. <br />& 402.14(d), (f)-(g). <br /> <br />(c) The biological opinion analyzes <br />both the specific federal action <br />and the overall context of what is <br />happening to the species. 50 <br />C.F.R. && 402.14(h), 402.02. In <br />determining whether the project is <br />likely to jeopardize the species, <br /> <br />9 <br /> <br />