39
PEL Implementation
Resource Guide
State wildlife action plans are available in every
·
state. Transportation agencies are required to
consult these when developing transportation
plans and identifying mitigation needs and
strategies.
Resource Agency Management Plans are a
·
foundation for developing a regional ecosystem
framework. Some types of plans include:
Watershed plans
·
Recovery plans
·
Resource management plans
·
Forest management plans
·
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Special Area
·
Management Plans
Plans developed by non-governmental
·
organizations (NGOs) working with agency
scientists, such as the Bird Conservation
Plans of Partners In Flight, ecoregional
plans of The Nature Conservancy, Wildlife
Action Plan, or statewide Comprehensive
Wildlife Conservation Strategy
For coastal states there are plans from state
·
coastal management programs, state coastal
non-point (not from a single, well-defined
site) pollution programs, National Marine
Sanctuaries (NOAA Fisheries Service),
National Estuarine Research Reserves
(NOAA Fisheries Service and States), and
National Estuary Programs (EPA)
What Decisions Help
Make the Linkage?
During the planning process, existing resource
information as well as recovery or management plans
should be used to help screen all planning scenarios
and project concepts by overlaying resource infor-
mation with community and transportation plans
and proposals. This overlaying provides partners
with an understanding of the locations and potential
impacts of proposed infrastructure actions. With this
understanding, they can more accurately identify the
areas most in need of protection, and better predict
and assess cumulative resource impacts. This can also
streamline infrastructure development by identifying
ecologically significant areas, potentially impacted
resources, regions to avoid, and mitigation opportu-
nities before new projects are initiated.
This process will help ensure that the final plan
and the individual project concepts incorporate
environmental goals to the greatest extent possible.
In the end, however, it may not be possible to avoid
all environmental impacts associated with the final
approved plan.