摘要: |
On May 19, 2000, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) received a Biological Assessment (BA) and request from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) for Endangered Species Act (ESA) section 7 formal consultation for a pavement preservation project and a culvert replacement project in Wheeler County, Oregon. These projects are related and both are located along US Highway 26. The FHWA is partially funding the proposed projects, and is the lead federal agency for the consultation. The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) has designed the projects and will administer the construction contract. This Biological Opinion (Opinion) is based on the information presented in the BA and the result of the consultation process. The FHWA/ODOT has determined that the Middle Columbia River (MCR) steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) may occur within the project area. The MCR steelhead was listed under the ESA on March 25, 1999 (64 FR 14517). The proposed project is within MCR steelhead critical habitat, which was designated February 16, 2000 (65 FR 7764). |