A Biological Assessment also may be recommended for other activities to ensure the agency’s early involvement and increase the chances for resolution during informal consultation. Biological Evaluation is a generic term for all other types of analyses.
Table of Contents
What is included in a biological assessment?
A biological assessment is an evaluation of the condition of a waterbody by sampling species that spend all or part of their lives in that waterbody. A biological survey is conducted to collect a representative sample of the biological community found in the waterbody.
How long does a biological assessment take?
Formal consultation may last up to 90 days, after which the Service will prepare a biological opinion. The intent of a biological opinion is to analyze the effects of the proposed action to the listed species or designated critical habitat.
What does Section 7 of the ESA require and prohibit?
Section 7 of the ESA requires Federal agencies to use their legal authorities to promote the conservation purposes of the ESA and to consult with the USFWS and NMFS, as appropriate, to ensure that effects of actions they authorize, fund, or carry out are not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of listed …
What is ESA Section 7 consultation?
Specifically, section 7(a)(1) of the ESA charges Federal agencies to aid in the conservation of listed species, and section 7(a)(2) requires the agencies, through consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), to ensure their activities are not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of listed …
What is a biological opinion?
Biological opinion is the document that states the opinion of the Service as to whether or not the Federal action is likely to jeopardize the continued existence of listed species or result in the destruction or adverse modification of critical habitat.
How do you write a biological evaluation?

Does a biological opinion expire?
A document stating the opinion of FWS or NOAA Fisheries on whether or not a Federal action is likely to jeopardize the continued existence of listed species or result in the destruction or adverse modification of critical habitat. Biological Opinion No Longer Valid (Expired, Revoked, Withdrawn)
What is Section 4 of the ESA?
Section 4(d) of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) directs NOAA Fisheries to issue regulations necessary to conserve species listed as threatened. This applies particularly to “take,” which can include any act that kills or injures threatened species, and may include habitat modification.
What is Section 9 of the ESA?
In general, Section 9 of the ESA prohibits persons from importing, exporting, transporting, or selling endangered species of fish, wildlife, and plants in interstate or foreign commerce. It is also illegal to “take” an endangered fish or wildlife species or possess taken species.
What is Section 10 of the ESA?
Section 10 of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) allows an individual or private citizen to “take” a listed species if they develop a Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP). This is in contrast to Section 7 of the ESA, which regulates federal government actions.
What is a take under ESA?
The ESA defines “take” as: to harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, or collect or to attempt to engage in any such conduct.
What are the sections of the ESA?
- Applied Ecology Section.
- Agroecology Section.
- Aquatic Ecology Section.
- Asian Ecology Section.
- Biogeosciences Section.
- Black Ecologist Section.
- Communication and Engagement Section.
- Disease Ecology Section.
What is a programmatic consultation?
A programmatic consultation is a consultation addressing an agency’s multiple actions on a program, region or other basis. A programmatic section 7 consultation can achieve several objectives with positive administrative benefits for both the action and consulting agencies.
Why is the Endangered Species Act controversial?
The Endangered Species Act has often generated controversy because its enforcement requires changes in our land use. But in recent years, opponents have moved from challenging specific listing decisions or recovery measures to attacking the core of the lawโits reliance on science.
Who enforced the Endangered Species Act?
The ESA is enforced by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and the National Marine Fisheries Services (NMFS).
What is the purpose of the Endangered Species Act quizlet?
The Endangered Species Act (ESA) is designed to protect species from extinction as a “consequence of economic growth and development untempered by adequate concern and conservation.” This act is designed to protect both the species and “the ecosystems on which endangered species and threatened species depend.”
What is Jeopardy Biological opinion?
A jeopardy opinion occurs when an action is reasonably expected, directly or indirectly, to diminish a species’ numbers, reproduction, or distribution so that the likelihood of survival and recovery in the wild is appreciably reduced.
What is an incidental take statement?
An Incidental Take Statement is issued to a federal agency as part of a biological opinion that estimates the amount or extent of incidental take of listed species likely to result from the action subject to consultation and exempts that take from section 9 take prohibitions.
What is biological evaluation report?
A biological evaluation report (BER) is a collective summary of data used to demonstrate how compatible a medical device is with the human body. In other words, the BER provides evidence of a medical device’s biological safety, known as biocompatibility.
What is a biological evaluation plan?
A Biological Evaluation Plan is a requirement that will examine available information concerning the medical device’s configuration, material composition, manufacturing, intended use, any extant testing information and clinical history.
What is biological evaluation in pharmacognosy?
The plant or extract can then be evaluated by various biological methods to determine pharmacological activity, potency, and toxicity. The biological evaluation would serve better than the physical and chemical evaluation for drugs that could not be satisfactorily assayed by these last two methods.
What is ESA compliance?
The ESA prohibits any actions by communities, developers, private citizens, etc., from “taking” or “harming” endangered wildlife. Similar prohibitions are generally extended, by regulation, to threatened wildlife.
What year was the Endangered Species Act passed?
Passed with bipartisan support in 1973, the law allows individuals and organizations to petition to have a species listed as endangered or threatened.
Which of these is an advantage of the Endangered Species Act?
By protecting wildlife and critical habitat, the ESA creates jobs for wildlife-dependent communities and protects plants and animals that may someday cure fatal diseases. ร The Act provides millions of dollars each year for local communities.