Endangered Species Act Compliance

WEST is a recognized leader in the field of Endangered Species Act (ESA) consultations and is adept and nimble at navigating the regulatory, legal, and political landscapes of conservation planning for threatened and endangered species. We are currently working on or have completed more than 35 Habitat Conservation Plans (HCPs) covering 17 different ESA-listed species across the US for a variety of clients, including wind energy and solar energy projects, oil and gas facilities, forestry operations, highway construction, gravel mines, and reservoirs. 

Our broad ESA expertise expands beyond HCPs to also include Candidate Conservation Agreements with Assurances, National Environmental Policy Act review, research under recovery permits, research to support recovery planning and species status assessments, and conservation plan implementation and long-term monitoring. Our team of biologists and biometricians provides scientifically credible, robust, and project-specific solutions to the oftentimes intricate issues associated with listed species. Critical to the development of durable and defensible plans, our experience, expertise, and professional relationships have helped us cultivate a collaborative and streamlined process for working together with applicants, the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), and other stakeholders.

ESA Compliance Expertise:

  • Assessment of Risk and ESA Compliance Strategy Options
  • Evaluating Potential Take of Listed Species
  • Assessing the Impacts of Take
  • Designing Compliance Monitoring and Effectiveness Monitoring Plans
  • Conservation Planning and Identification of Avoidance, Minimization, and Mitigation Measures
  • Development of Adaptive Management Processes
  • Planning for Changes and Unforeseen Circumstances
  • Process Management and Facilitation
  • Implementation Support

Project Highlights

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