Recently, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Marine Fisheries Service (collectively referred to as the “Services”) issued a final rule that amended federal interagency consultations under Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act (ESA). These updates may have significant impacts on projects; let’s delve into these changes to understand their implications.
Read more in the full Regulatory Alert.
SWCA Lens
SWCA can help reduce the impact of these ESA Section 7 changes on project timelines and budgets in several ways.
First and foremost, SWCA uses sound science to help determine whether effects are reasonably certain to occur. Detailed applied science on specific threatened or endangered species is often lacking but can be extremely helpful for countering generalities in the scientific literature. Consider if investing in species-specific science might be appropriate for your organization to help pave the way for better consultation outcomes. SWCA employs experts on a wide range of animal and plant species, experts in study design and statistical analysis, and experts in emerging technology and tools to collect and process field data. We can help identify areas where targeted scientific inquiry may be influential for advancing important projects or programs.
SWCA can also help you consider the potential impacts of your overall project portfolio or program to identify…
