[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"detail-sidebar-cat-1-en-105":3,"doc-seo-163157-105":53,"doc-detail-163157-en":126},{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":6},0,"success",[7,14,19,24,29,34,39,44,49],{"id":8,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":11,"show_sort_weight":12,"slug":13},11,1,"Template","Presentations",90,"presentations",{"id":15,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":16,"show_sort_weight":17,"slug":18},12,"Resumes",80,"resumes",{"id":20,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":21,"show_sort_weight":22,"slug":23},14,"Invoices",70,"invoices",{"id":25,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":26,"show_sort_weight":27,"slug":28},15,"Posters",60,"posters",{"id":30,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":31,"show_sort_weight":32,"slug":33},16,"Social Media",50,"social-media",{"id":35,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":36,"show_sort_weight":37,"slug":38},17,"Forms",40,"forms",{"id":40,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":41,"show_sort_weight":42,"slug":43},18,"Letters",30,"letters",{"id":45,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":46,"show_sort_weight":47,"slug":48},21,"Paper Templates",5,"papers-templates",{"id":50,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":51,"show_sort_weight":4,"slug":52},158,"General","general-158",{"code":4,"msg":54,"data":55},"ok",{"site_id":56,"language":57,"slug":58,"title":59,"keywords":60,"description":61,"schema_data":62,"social_meta":119,"head_meta":121,"extra_data":123,"updated_unix":125},105,"en","background-steps-checklist-biological-assessment","Background Steps Checklist - Biological Assessment","","Background Steps Checklist supports coordination between the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) for Endangered Species Act (ESA) Section 7 consultations and applicable EFH consultations. The checklist organizes the information and analysis needed to initiate formal Section 7 consultation under 50 CFR §402.14, while remaining suitable for informal discussions. It includes background and BA outline items such as executive summary, consultation history, project description, authorities, location details, and construction activity breakouts.",{"@graph":63,"@context":118},[64,80,101],{"@type":65,"itemListElement":66},"BreadcrumbList",[67,71,74,77],{"item":68,"name":69,"@type":70,"position":9},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",{"item":72,"name":10,"@type":70,"position":73},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/",2,{"item":75,"name":41,"@type":70,"position":76},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/letters/",3,{"item":78,"name":59,"@type":70,"position":79},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/background-steps-checklist-biological-assessment/163157/",4,{"url":78,"name":59,"@type":81,"image":82,"author":87,"headline":59,"publisher":90,"fileFormat":93,"inLanguage":57,"description":61,"dateModified":94,"datePublished":95,"encodingFormat":93,"isAccessibleForFree":96,"interactionStatistic":97},"DigitalDocument",{"url":83,"@type":84,"width":85,"height":86},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/background-steps-checklist-biological-assessment/163157.png","ImageObject",442,249,{"name":88,"@type":89},"Jiven","Person",{"url":68,"name":91,"@type":92},"DocShare","Organization","application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.wordprocessingml.document","2026-09-25","2026-08-31",true,{"@type":98,"interactionType":99,"userInteractionCount":47},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":100},"ViewAction",{"@type":102,"mainEntity":103},"FAQPage",[104,110,114],{"name":105,"@type":106,"acceptedAnswer":107},"What is the purpose of the Background Steps Checklist for ESA consultations?","Question",{"text":108,"@type":109},"It clarifies and streamlines coordination between USFWS and Caltrans for ESA Section 7 consultations and applicable EFH consultations by identifying essential information and analysis needed for timely completion.","Answer",{"name":111,"@type":106,"acceptedAnswer":112},"Which ESA Section 7 items does the checklist align with?",{"text":113,"@type":109},"The included information needs are based on the six items described in 50 CFR §402.14 to initiate formal Section 7 consultation, and they also apply to informal consultations.",{"name":115,"@type":106,"acceptedAnswer":116},"What does the checklist request or prepare before initiating consultation?",{"text":117,"@type":109},"It includes steps such as requesting the USFWS species list via IPaC, arranging technical assistance or early informal discussions, preparing a cover letter, and requesting ESA consultation after completion of the final biological assessment.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":78,"og:type":120,"og:title":59,"og:site_name":91,"og:description":61},"article",{"robots":122,"canonical":78},"index,follow",{"doc_id":124,"site_id":56},163157,1788138852,{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":127},{"doc_id":124,"user_id":128,"nickname":88,"user_avatar":129,"doc_module":9,"category_id":40,"category_name":41,"doc_title":59,"doc_description":61,"doc_content":130,"file_id":131,"file_url":132,"file_type":133,"file_size":134,"view_count":47,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":9,"is_downloadable":9,"audit_status":9,"page_count":135,"language":136,"language_code":57,"site_id":56,"html_lang":57,"table_of_contents":137,"faqs":138,"seo_title":139,"seo_description":61,"update_tm":125,"read_time":76},1099513958607,"https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/avatar/100002390cf8733938c?x-image-process=image/resize,m_fixed,w_180,h_180&k=1778829742770036399","Biological Assessment Checklist\nCaltrans and USFWS Section 7 ESA Consultations\nJune 2014\n(minor updates October 2020)\nOctober 2020:  Minor edits were made to this checklist to meet Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards.  Please see the Caltrans \u0013 HYPERLINK \"https://dot.ca.gov/programs/environmental-analysis/standard-environmental-reference-ser/forms-templates\" \\l \"faqs\" \\o \"Caltrans Biology Templates\" \u0014Biological Assessment template\u0015 for the most up to date information.\nThis checklist is intended to clarify and streamline coordination for Endangered Species Act (ESA) Section 7 consultations between the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans).  The purpose of this checklist is to identify important information and analysis needed to complete Section 7 and EFH consultations in a timely and efficient manner.\nThe information needs included in this checklist are based on the six items that are described in 50 CFR §402.14 to initiate formal ESA Section 7 consultation, but are also applicable to informal consultations.  The checklist is for general project use as a guidance tool.  Some items may not be applicable to specific projects and/or additional items may be identified during the course of a consultation.\nBackground Steps Checklist\n\u0013 FORMCHECKBOX \u0014\u0015\tTitle of Proposed Action:  \u0013 FORMTEXT \u0014Click to enter text.\u0015\n\u0013 FORMCHECKBOX \u0014\u0015\tType of Proposed Action:  \u0013 FORMTEXT \u0014Click to enter text.\u0015\n(e.g. funding, carrying out, or authorizing bridge replacement, seismic retrofit, culvert replacement, placement of rock slope protection, road realignment, or other types of projects)\n\u0013 FORMCHECKBOX \u0014\u0015\tRequest species list from USFWS:\n\u0013 HYPERLINK \"https://ecos.fws.gov/ipac/\" \\o \"IPaC\" \u0014IPaC\u0015:  \u0013 FORMTEXT \u0014Click to enter date.\u0015\n\u0013 FORMCHECKBOX \u0014\u0015\tRequest USFWS to engage in technical assistance/early informal consultation discussions through pre-consultation meetings, site visits, and/or reviewing draft biological assessments (BA).\n\u0013 FORMCHECKBOX \u0014\u0015\tPrepare cover letter with project name, project location (city, county), brief project summary (2-3 sentences), request for consultation (formal or informal), and effects determinations (a table works well for this).\n\u0013 FORMCHECKBOX \u0014\u0015\tRequest ESA consultation, as applicable, upon completion of final BA.\nRequest Date:  \u0013 FORMTEXT \u0014Click to enter date.\u0015\nNeeded by Date:  \u0013 FORMTEXT \u0014Click to enter date.\u0015\nResponse Date:  \u0013 FORMTEXT \u0014Click to enter date\u0015\n\u0013 FORMCHECKBOX \u0014\u0015\tUtilize relevant planning reports and guidelines:\n\u0013 HYPERLINK \"http://www.fws.gov/endangered/esa-library/pdf/esa_section7_handbook.pdf\" \\o \"Section 7 Endangered Species Act Handbook\" \u0014Endangered Species Consultation Handbook:  Procedures for Conducting Consultation and Conference Activities Under Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act.\u0015  March 1998.\n\u0013 HYPERLINK \"file://C:\\\\Users\\\\s117003\\\\Desktop\\\\SER_Working%20Folder\\\\An%20Assessment%20Framework%20for%20Conducting%20Jeopardy%20Analyses%20under%20Section%207%20of%20the%20Endangered%20Species%20Act.%20%20A%20Background%20Paper.%20%20Modified%20June%206,%202004.%20%20This%20publication%20can%20be%20found%20at%20the%20following%20link:%20https:\\\\training.fws.gov\\\\courses\\\\csp\\\\csp3116\\\\resources\\\\Study_Guides\\\\07_framework_overview.pdf\" \\o \"Framework for Conducting Jeopardy Analyses under Section 7\" \u0014An Assessment Framework for Conducting Jeopardy Analyses under Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act\u0015.  Modified June 6, 2004.\nBA Outline and Checklist\n\u0013 FORMCHECKBOX \u0014\u0015\tExecutive Summary:  findings, including may affect and no effect determinations for all species and designated critical habitat listed on USFWS/IPaC species list.\nIntroduction\n\u0013 FORMCHECKBOX \u0014\u0015\tPurpose and need of the proposed action.\n\u0013 FORMCHECKBOX \u0014\u0015\tGeneral location of the proposed action.\n\u0013 FORMCHECKBOX \u0014\u0015\tBrief summary of the proposed action.\n\u0013 FORMCHECKBOX \u0014\u0015\tBrief description of biological or habitat studies conducted for the action.\nConsultation Histor","cbCaiiICqefP2Nvf","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaiiICqefP2Nvf","docx",41555,9,"English","# Background Steps Checklist\n## BA Outline and Checklist\n## Executive Summary\n## Introduction\n## Consultation History\n## Description of the Proposed Action\n## Project Summary and Authorities\n## Project Location\n## Construction Activities\n## Deconstruct the Action","[{\"question\":\"What is the purpose of the Background Steps Checklist for ESA consultations?\",\"answer\":\"It clarifies and streamlines coordination between USFWS and Caltrans for ESA Section 7 consultations and applicable EFH consultations by identifying essential information and analysis needed for timely completion.\"},{\"question\":\"Which ESA Section 7 items does the checklist align with?\",\"answer\":\"The included information needs are based on the six items described in 50 CFR §402.14 to initiate formal Section 7 consultation, and they also apply to informal consultations.\"},{\"question\":\"What does the checklist request or prepare before initiating consultation?\",\"answer\":\"It includes steps such as requesting the USFWS species list via IPaC, arranging technical assistance or early informal discussions, preparing a cover letter, and requesting ESA consultation after completion of the final biological assessment.\"}]","Background Steps Checklist - Biological Assessment | DOCX"]