United States Government Publishing Office publisher pbl distributor dst United States Government Accountability Office author aut Government Organization text government publication eng GAOREPORTS Legislative Agency Publications gao legislative 2010-08-12 U.S. Government Printing Office 2003-06-25 monographic deposited born digital 19 p. GA 1.13:GAO-03-949T https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-03-949T P0b002ee180371927 f:d03949t DGPO 2010-08-12 2011-03-24 GAOREPORTS-GAO-03-949T machine generated eng fdlp REPORT GAOREPORTS-GAO-03-949T GAO-03-949T Decision making Endangered species Environment evaluation Environmental policies Interagency relations Program evaluation Testimony A07368 The Endangered Species Act requires all federal agencies to consult with the Fish and Wildlife Service or the National Marine Fisheries Service (the Services) to determine the effect that the activities they conduct, permit, or fund may have on threatened or endangered species. In particular, federal agencies (action agencies) must ensure that their activities do not jeopardize the continued existence of any listed species or adversely modify critical habitat. After several fish species in the Pacific Northwest were listed in the late 1990s, the Services' consultation workload increased significantly in Idaho, Oregon, and Washington, and the Services were unable to keep up with requests for consultation. As a result, many proposed activities were delayed for months or years. Even under normal workload conditions, the consultation process can be difficult, in part because decisions about how species will be protected must often be made with uncertain scientific information using professional judgment. This testimony is based on ongoing work requested by the Chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, and Water. It addresses (1) efforts to improve the consultation process, by the Services and by four action agencies in Idaho, Oregon, and Washington; and (2) concerns with the process expressed by officials at the Services and action agencies, and by nonfederal parties. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-03-949T/html/GAOREPORTS-GAO-03-949T.htm https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-03-949T/pdf/GAOREPORTS-GAO-03-949T.pdf GAO-03-949T https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-03-949T Testimony GAO-03-949T; Endangered Species: Despite Consultation Improvement Efforts in the Pacific Northwest, Concerns Persist about the Process; Decision making Endangered species Environment evaluation Environmental policies Interagency relations Program evaluation