MATTHEW A. LOVE Partner- Seattle , Washington

1. Biological Opinions & Endangered Species Act Consultation – A “How To” Guide for Working with Agencies on ESA Issues MATTHEW A. LOVE Partner- Seattle, Washington February 19, 2013 Portland, OR

2. The Purpose of the ESA • The ESA, passed by Congress in 1973, is designed to protect critically imperiled species from extinction. • Administered by: • Department of Commerce – National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) • Authority over marine species • Department of Interior – U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) • Authority over freshwater fish and all other species • “The most comprehensive legislation for the preservation of endangered species ever enacted by any nation.” • Tennessee Valley Auth. v. Hill, 437 U.S. 153 (1978). ESA Seminar - Anchorage, Alaska

3. The Endangered Species Act (ESA) • Section 4 Listing Process and Critical Habitat Designations • Section 7 Consultation Requirements • Section 9 Take Prohibition • Section 10 Incidental Take and Habitat Conservation Plans • Section 11 Enforcement Biological Opinions & Endangered Species Act Consultation – Portland, OR

4. Overview of ESA Section 7 • ESA Section 7’s substantive and procedural obligations • Initiation of Section 7 consultation • Roles of action agency, resource agency, and the license applicant (as designated non-federal representative) • Section 7 consultation process • BiOps, ITS, RPAs, RPMs, and TCs • Reinitiation of consultation Biological Opinions & Endangered Species Act Consultation – Portland, OR

5. Section 7’s Substantive Obligation NWHA Annual Conference - Portland, Oregon

6. Section 7’s Substantive Obligation ESA § 7(a)(2): “Each Federal agency shall, in consultation with and with the assistance of the Secretary, insure that any action authorized, funded, or carried out by such agency . . . is not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of any endangered species or threatened species or result in the destruction or adverse modification of [Critical Habitat].” Biological Opinions & Endangered Species Act Consultation – Portland, OR

7. Section 7’s Procedural Obligations NWHA Annual Conference - Portland, Oregon

8. What is Involved in a Section 7 Consultation? Threshold considerations Biological assessment Informal consultation Formal consultation Biological opinion Incidental take statement Biological Opinions & Endangered Species Act Consultation – Portland, OR

9. The Informal Consultation Process Biological Opinions & Endangered Species Act Consultation – Portland, OR

10. INFORMAL CONSULTATION • Federal Agency Action • Major Construction Activity • Biological Assessment • No Effect • Not Likely to Adversely Affect Biological Opinions & Endangered Species Act Consultation – Portland, OR

11. The Formal Consultation Process Biological Opinions & Endangered Species Act Consultation – Portland, OR

12. FORMAL CONSULTATION • Initiation of Formal Consultation • Biological Opinion Biological Opinions & Endangered Species Act Consultation – Portland, OR

13. Biological Opinion Proposed action Environmental baseline Analysis of effects Jeopardy determination Reasonable and prudent alternative (RPA) Incidental take statement (ITS) Conservation recommendations Biological Opinions & Endangered Species Act Consultation – Portland, OR

14. Reinitiating Consultation When action agency retains discretionary control, it has continuing obligation to reinitiate consultation if: the incidental take statement is exceeded; new information reveals new effects of the action; action is subsequently modified; or new species is listed or critical habitat designated Biological Opinions & Endangered Species Act Consultation – Portland, OR

15. Keys to Success Biological Opinions & Endangered Species Act Consultation – Portland, OR

16. For more information MATTHEW A. LOVE 206-829-1809 mal@vnf.com 719 Second Avenue Suite 1150 Seattle, WA 98104 February 19, 2013 Portland, OR