Answers_to_Contractor_Questions__5.pdf

ANSWERS TO CONTRACTOR QUESTIONS #5

Question Subject/

Title Page #

Contractor Comment/Question

1. Evaluation Factor #3 Records of Environmental Consideration

42 We understand that there must be three NEPA (EIS or EA) and three ESA (BA/BE) documents. The question is for the ESA documents, will a Species Recovery Plan be acceptable, as an ESA document? A species recovery plan is a direct ESA document, albeit typically done by the USFWS internally. Will this be acceptable as one of the three ESA documents to be submitted?

USACE Response: Authorship of a species recovery plan is a high-level ESA document heavily reliant upon best available and latest science, normally prepared for the Services, which guides all future BiOps and Consultations. I would view this as a suitable replacement for an ESA document IF IT applies regionally. That is to say, if it relates directly to recovery of species in the Columbia/Snake Basins, this would be a good and high-level substitute in my view. They would still need at least 2 other ESA documents that are more directly applicable to our daily work (BAs or BEs) to ensure they know how to perform lower level work as well.