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V. Evaluating Proposed Actions Evaluating the effects of a proposed action and determining what level of impact constitutes jeopardy is problematic. Listed species are by definition at risk of extinction. The prospects for recovery will be maximized by eliminating all sources of mortality. There are, however, practical constraints to eliminating all humaninduced mortality and appropriate considerations, within the context of the ESA, of what may be a reasonable allowance for mortality. In general, the task of determining whether an action is likely to jeopardize a species or not is to identify, given all other potential actions, the level of impact that can reasonably be allowed consistent with the expectation for survival and recovery of the species. The standards for determining jeopardy are set forth in Section 7(a)(2) of the ESA as defined by 50 C.F.R. Part 402 (the consultation regulations). NMFS discusses the analysis necessary for application of these standards in the particular contexts of the listed species of Snake River salmon in Attachment 2. This analysis involves the following steps: (1) define the biological requirements of the listed species; (2) evaluate the relevance of the environmental baseline to the species' current status; (3) determine the effects of the proposed or continuing action on listed species; (4) determine whether the species can be expected to survive with an adequate potential for recovery under the effects of the proposed or continuing action, the environmental baseline and any cumulative effects, and considering measures for survival and recovery specific to other life stages; and (5) identify reasonable and prudent alternatives to a proposed or continuing action that is likely to jeopardize the continued existence of the listed species. The analytical procedure described in Attachment 2 was developed using the statutes and regulations of the ESA with special consideration for the unique life history of Pacific salmon species. While the procedure is generally applicable to all Pacific salmon, it was developed first for the circumstances and available information related to the Snake River species. The kind and quality of information available for other species may vary requiring more or less qualitative analyses of certain steps in the procedure. For example, the Proposed Recovery Plan and available life cycle models are important components used in the analysis of actions related to Snake River species. For Sacramento River winter-run chinook, the Recovery Plan is still in preparation and there is no comparable life cycle models that can be used to analyze simultaneously the effects of all actions. Nevertheless, the framework of the analytical procedure is still applicable and is used to the degree possible in evaluating impacts to Sacramento River winter-run chinook.
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