Creating an Effects Analysis
NOTE: NOAA Fisheries Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office (GARFO) developed this spreadsheet as an in-house tool for assessing the potential effects to ESA-listed fish and sea turtles exposed to elevated levels of underwater sound produced during pile driving in riverine and inshore environments (coastal areas, bays, and rivers). For cetacean physiological (injury) effects, please refer to NOAA Fisheries' 2018 Marine Mammal Acoustic Technical Guidance document and user spreadsheet for assessing whether or not a project creates underwater noise that exceeds the permanent threshold shift (PTS) or temporary threshold shift (TTS) limits for listed cetaceans. NOAA Fisheries assumes no responsibility for interpretation and application of the results of these models by non-NOAA Fisheries users, as conditions at each project site may vary.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers - New England District
Nearshore and Open-Water Disposal Sites - ME, MA, NH, RI, and CT
Writing Resources for Action Agencies
We encourage action agencies to utilize these writing resources while preparing their letter of concurrence requests.
Successful Examples of Incoming Consultation Letters
Looking for additional guidance to construct your Biological Assessment? Check out these FWS resources (e.g., Interagency Cooperation for Endangered Species course)! Note: there are subtle differences in the way NOAA Fisheries and FWS approach ESA Section 7 Consultation (E.g., ESA-listed species and critical habitat under NOAA Fisheries jurisdiction are NOT included in iPaC (GARFO has the Section 7 Mapper)).
Contact Us
For more information, see Frequently Asked Questions
For additional help, we strongly encourage action agency staff or non-federal representatives who may need to do ESA consultations to contact us. Please send questions, consultation initiation and concurrence requests to:
Email: nmfs.gar.esa.section7@noaa.gov
We are happy to provide the action agencies with technical assistance and guidance—before you begin the official ESA consultation process—to make the process easier, quicker, and more efficient.
To contact the Section 7 biologist for your area, see Contact Us.
Return to the GARFO Section 7 Homepage
Right whale #3853 swimming north offshore of South Carolina on Jan. 20, 2011 with a series of fresh propeller wounds running across its back. The whale was observed 5 days previously offshore of Georgia without propeller wounds. It is unknown whether the whale survived its wounds or not, as it has not been re-sighted since. Vessel collisions are a leading cause of right whale mortality. Credit: EcoHealth Alliance (NOAA permit #594-1759).
North Atlantic right whale Catalog #3560 ‘Snow Cone’ sighted December 2, 2021 entangled and with a new calf. Photo credit: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission taken under NOAA permit 20556.
Four North Atllantic right whales.
A Northeast Fisheries Science Center biologist collecting data during buoyless lobster trap tests.