What If an Agencys Project Will Adversely Affect Essential Fish Habitat?
NOAA Fisheries will utilize five types of consultations for agency actions that may adversely affect Essential Fish Habitat. These consultations range in level of detail depending on the severity of habitat disturbance: • Existing Procedures NOAA Fisheries will use existing environmental review procedures, such as those contained in the National Environmental Policy Act and the Endangered Species Act, to streamline the consultation requirements of the Magnuson-Stevens Act whenever possible. • Programmatic Consultation NOAA Fisheries and the respective Council will make conservation recommendations for the program. When recommendations are accepted by the action agency, no further consultation may be required. • General Concurrence Once assured the agency actions may cause only minimal adverse effects, either individually or cumulatively, NOAA Fisheries may not require further consultation. NOAA Fisheries or the agency will track the projects to ensure adverse impacts do not occur. The
