BLM Programmatic Biological Assessment

Summary: Cardno ENTRIX prepared a Draft Programmatic Biological Assessment (BA) to address the effects of multiple federal actions on federally listed species within BLM Las Vegas District, which is administered by the BLM?s Las Vegas Field Office (LVFO). The format and approach of this biological assessment is as a programmatic consultation as discussed in the Draft Programmatic Consultation Guidance (July 16, 2003) by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). The purpose of this programmatic consultation is to guide the management of LVFO District?s lands while implementing a variety of activities. Activities associated with the multiple public uses of BLM land and authorized by the BLM can result in biological impacts, including effects to listed species.

BLM?s LVFO requires a new approach for the stewardship and management of federally listed threatened and endangered (T&E) species and special status species (candidate) that inhabit BLM-administered lands within the boundaries of the LVFO. This new approach involves an Endangered Species Act (ESA) programmatic Section 7 consultation process following the recently developed Draft Programmatic Guidance issued by USFWS. This guidance has established several approaches to programmatic consultation that address the needs for federal agencies to consult under Section 7 during both the ?adoption? stage of a federal management strategy/plan as well as at the project level ?implementation? stage of actions defined within that plan or strategy. The programmatic BA addressed approximately 30 species.