Target Audience: FWS and NOAA Fisheries biologists responsible for conducting project review of potential impacts to listed, proposed, or candidate species. Action agency biologists and consultants are welcome to attend.
Summary and Objectives: Participants acquire basic knowledge and skills in conducting interagency consultation under Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act. Key information needs and procedures are addressed, with a focus on those related to biological assessments and biological opinions. Lecture and discussion emphasize interagency exchange of information and solutions to support species conservation, while exercises are used to reinforce those concepts and provide practical experience.
Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:
- Describe the ESA §7(a)(1) conservation obligation and functions of §7(a)(2), and the legal standards that govern their application to Federal actions;
- Recognize and describe the steps of the ESA Sect 7(a)(2) compliance pathways and the role/purpose of each step;
- Describe the necessary information included in a biological assessment or biological opinion;
- Describe and apply the 'may affect/no effect,' 'jeopardy/no jeopardy' and 'adverse modification' determination processes;
- Explain the importance of Section 7 consultation in implementing the conservation mandates of the Endangered Species Act.
- Describe the additional considerations that apply to consultations such as emergency response, programmatic approaches, species recovery, ESA§10 permit actions, and reinitiating consultation.
Competency Addressed: Conservation Biology - Basic, Environmental Compliance - Basic, Organizational Awareness - Basic, Partnering - Basic, Technical Documentation - Basic.
Pre-Requisite Course: Endangered Species Act Overview
Registration Information:
Registration for this course is in DOI Talent. You must complete any training pre-requisites in DOI Talent prior to registering for this course.
DOI Employees can register here: Course: Interagency Cooperation for Endangered Species
Non DOI Employees: Contact Emily_Hooper@ios.doi.gov
Payment Information: Please do not pay for this course until you receive confirmation of your enrollment from the course contact.
Tuition: $1990.00