ENDANGERED SPECIES &
CELLULAR PHONE RELAY TOWER REQUESTS
Endangered Species Consultation
We receive hundreds of letters asking for information on whether a
federally listed endangered or threatened species may occur within the
vicinity of a project area. We respond to most of these letters within
30 days. Federal agencies are required to contact us regarding listed
species, but often times consultants contact us before submitting a client's
project to the appropriate Federal agency.
In the vast majority of cases, our records
indicate that listed species are not present and potential habitat is also not
present. In some cases we determine that the site is either close to a
known site or we believe that suitable habitat may be present. In those
cases, we ask the project proponent to conduct a survey of the site.
If a project may adversely affect a federally
listed species, then the appropriate Federal agency must request consultation
with the Service. This process enables us to work with the project
proponent, and the federal agency to design a project that avoids impacts to
the listed species.
In most cases the consultation process ends
early in the informal process. The Endangered Species Act provides a
formal process, which may take up to 135 days to complete.
Applicants for Federal funds, licenses,
permits, or authorization, should not begin work on a project until the
consultation process is completed because Federal agencies may not make any
irretrievable or irreversible commitments of resources until the consultation
process is completed,
Cellular Phone Tower Consultation
The Migratory Bird Treaty Act requires the
Service to preserve migratory birds, and protect them from take. It also
requires us to provide rules, regulations and guidelines that would aid in the
conservation of these birds. Currently, the most common example of this is the location and construction of
cellular phone relay towers, which is licensed by the Federal Communications
Commission. Because cell towers may contribute to localized high mortality
in migratory birds (which strike the towers while in flight), the Service has developed a set of advisory interim
guidelines for
construction of these towers.
To Make a Request
Send a letter to us that includes as much of the the following as is
possible.
- Contact information (address, phone, etc.) of applicant, consultant, or
other designated point of contact.
- A description of the proposed
project (e.g., residential or commercial development, stream
stabilization, area affected, etc.).
- The site of the proposed project referenced
by county and location. Be sure to include the site legal
description (Township, Range, section(s), and ¼ section(s) as well.
- A site map, with the site highlighted in
some way.
- If you will apply for, or are concurrently
applying for a permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, please also
indicate the name of the applicant as it will be written on the permit
application.
- Notation of any plant community type(s)
present on site or anticipated impacts to wetlands present on site.
- A description of mapped soils at the
proposed site.
- For cell tower requests, please include all
of the above, and note the final height of the tower.
Address all endangered/threatened species and
cell tower requests to:
John D. Rogner, Field Supervisor
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Chicago Illinois Field Office
1250 S. Grove St., Suite 103
Barrington, Illinois 60010
