T4 AM Endangered Species and Environmental Contaminants: Status of the Science (Part 1)
Tuesday, 15 November 2005: 8:00 AM - 11:40 AM in Ballroom 4

(JOH-1117-823042) Assessing Risks Under the Endangered Species Act: A Framework for Section 7 Consultation.

Johnson, C¹, Garrett, A¹, Boroja, M¹, ¹ National Marine Fisheries Service, Office of Protected Resources, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA

ABSTRACT- Section 7(a)(2) of the United States Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA) requires Federal agencies to insure that any action they authorize, fund or otherwise carry out is not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of any species listed as federally threatened or endangered or result in the destruction or adverse modification of critical habitat that has been designated for those species (listed resources). To comply with this section of the ESA, Federal agencies are required to consult with the National Marine Fisheries Service and the Fish and Wildlife Service (the Services) on actions that may affect listed resources. Historically, assessments of the potential effects of environmental contaminants or water quality criteria on listed resources have pushed the limits of the traditional approach to assessment used in consultations. However, over the past three years, the Services have developed an updated assessment framework for consultations that integrates the procedural, analytical, and legal requirements of consultation and elements of the framework for ecological risk assessment developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 1998. An overview of this assessment framework will be discussed.

Key words: endangered species, critical habitat, section 7 consultation, assessment framework