Terrestrial Biology & Beyond…

1. Terrestrial Biology & Beyond… Chris Maguire Terrestrial Biology Program Coordinator Oregon Department of Transportation Local Government Environmental Training 2010 Corvallis, Oregon

2. ESA Effects Determination Training Purpose: Establishes expectations for the consultant community and Local Governments to author effects determinations under Section 7 of the federal ESA

3. ESA Effects Determination Training ESA Effects Determinations & Associated Documents: NE >> No Effect Memo NLAA >> Biological Assessment (BA) LAA >> Biological Assessment NE = No Effect NLAA = Not Likely to Adversely Affect LAA = Likely to Adversely Affect

4. ESA Effects Determination Training Qualifications: - 20 semester hrs of enviro courses or 3 yrs relevant experience - Training & testing - Refresher course every 2 yrs 2010 Training: Salem, May 26 & 27

5. ESA Effects Determination Training Local Government Options: - Use Local Gov staff qualified by ODOT - Use ODOT qualified consultant - Use qualified ODOT staff (if they are willing and available)

6. Federal ESA – Wildlife/Plants Wildlife (and others): Fender’s blue butterfly Oregon silverspot butterfly Fairy shrimp Northern spotted owl Marbled murrelet Western snowy plover (Pacific coastal) Stellar sea lion (eastern population) Plants: 15 species Photo: Nick Testa, ODOT

7. Oregon ESA Fish – 10 species (all federal listed) Reptiles – 4 species (all federal listed) Birds – 7 species (6 federal listed) Mammals – 12 species (8 federal listed) Plants – 60 species (15 federal listed) State listed only wildlife:bald eagle, western ground squirrel, kit fox, wolverine, gray whale

8. Oregon ESA • 2 Regulatory Agencies • OR Dept of Fish & Wildlife (ODFW) • - fish and wildlife • OR Dept of Agriculture (ODA) • - plants

9. Oregon ESA • ODFW – fish & wildlife (Incidental take permit) • – plants (Take permit) • Federal ESA • – fish & wildlife (Incidental take permit) • – plants (No incidental take permit)

10. Oregon ESA • State ESA – fish & wildlife • Compliance: A federal ESA permit serves as a waiver of state ESA requirements • (ORS 496.172(4)) • State ESA – plants • Compliance: An action initiated by a person other than a state agency that has met federal ESA requirements for a species meets state ESA requirements • (ORS 564.115(6))

11. Oregon ESA – Fish & Wildlife • Public agencies must consult with ODFW for actions on public land (owned or leased) if an action has the potential to appreciably reduce the likelihood of the survival or recovery of a T&E animal • If ODFW determines that such take will not adversely impact the long-term conservation of the species or its habitat, ODFW may issue an incidental take permit

12. Oregon ESA – Plants • A public agency must determine whether listed plants occur or are likely to occur on public lands targeted for action

13. Oregon ESA – Plants • A public agency must determine whether listed plants occur or are likely to occur on public lands targeted for action • A public agency must determine, prior to the action, whether the proposed action has the potential to appreciably reduce the likelihood of the survival or recovery of any population of the listed species (on public land)

14. Oregon ESA – Plants • A public agency must determine whether listed plants occur or are likely to occur on public lands targeted for action • A public agency should determine, prior to the action, whether the proposed action has the potential to appreciably reduce the likelihood of the survival or recovery of any population of the listed species • Results of the effects analysis should be provided to ODA for review, project approval, and a take permit

15. MBTA – Migratory Bird Treaty Act • Illegal to take or possess any migratory bird w/o an USFWS permit • Includes feathers, eggs, nests, or products • Take = pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, or collect

16. MBTA • It is legal to harass birds (if no harm occurs) and remove empty nests • Strict liability law – anyone can be convicted regardless of intent or guilty knowledge • All Oregon birds except feral pigeon, house sparrow, European starling, mute swan, and domesticated and raised birds (> 450 species)

17. MBTA • Most vulnerable life stages: Eggs & young incapable of flight • No incidental take permits • Slim possibility of a special purpose permit

18. MBTA – Compliance • Work in non-nesting season (roughly September through February) • Use USDA APHIS Wildlife Services through ODOT IGA (requires and ODOT EA) • AVOID (on structures & in vegetation) • Follow ODOT MBTA Directive APHIS Liaison: Diane Winterboer (541-258-2189; diane.e.winterboer@aphis.usda.gov)

19. BGEPA (Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act) Mature bald eagle Mature golden eagle Immature bald eagle

20. BGEPA • Illegal to take, possess, or transport any bald eagle, alive or dead, w/o a USFWS permit (includes feathers, eggs, & nests) • Take = pursue, shoot, shoot at, poison, wound, kill, capture, trap, collect, molest, or disturb • Incidental take permit is possible

21. BGEPA • Disturb means to bother an eagle to a degree that causes, or is likely to cause: • 1) injury to an eagle, • 2) a decrease in its productivity, by substantially interfering with normal breeding, feeding, or sheltering behavior, or • 3) nest abandonment, by substantially interfering with normal breeding, feeding, or sheltering behavior.

22. Harass/Disturb Summary • Fed ESA – Cannot harass • OR ESA (fish/wildlife) – Not mentioned • MBTA – Can harass • BGEPA – Cannot disturb

23. MMPA – Marine Mammal Protection Act • Places a moratorium on the taking of marine mammals • A take permit is possible • Permits are handled by the NOAA National Marine Mammal Lab in Seattle