Since the enactment of the national environmental policy act nepa in 1969 state game and fish agencies across the nation are legally required to conduct environmental reviews on development projects…

Since the enactment of the national environmental policy act nepa in 1969 state game and fish agencies across the nation are legally required to conduct environmental reviews on development projects that have a federal nexus i.e. a project that is funded with federal money or occurs on federal land. The reviews are required in order to receive a permit from a regulatory agency or funding for possible construction. The north dakota game and fish departments coordination and technical assistance program is carried out by a small work unit i.e. conservation section within the agency that conducts the majority of the work associated with environmental review. The conservation section has 3 full time staff biologists who carry out the day to day activities associated with this program. Each year the conservation section receives roughly 400 to 500 projects or solicitations of this nature. Based on information provided by project proponents staff conduct a desk top level review of the proposed projects for potential impacts to fish and wildlife resources in the immediate vicinity of where the project. If additional information is required staff may interact with the project proponents or state federal and local resource experts. Reviews for the vast majority of projects are conducted within 2 to 4 weeks of receiving a solicitation with most projects having minimal impacts. The project proponents are routinely provided a brief synopsis of the projects minimal impact determination via formal letter email or FAX. In instances where IT is determined that a project will impart larger or more substantial impacts staff will work with project proponents to lessen or minimize affects by suggesting alternative construction measures techniques time frames or offsets. This may require on site visits in person meetings phone calls or meetings with other natural resource agencies.