Carbaryl, Carbofuran, and Methomyl - National Marine Fisheries ...

Approach to this Assessment
Overview of NMFS’ Assessment Framework
NMFS uses a series of steps to assess the effects of federal actions on endangered and
threatened species and designated critical habitat. The first step of our analysis identifies
those physical, chemical, or biotic aspects of proposed actions that are likely to have
individual, interactive, or cumulative direct and indirect effects on the environment (we
use the term “potential stressors” for these aspects of an action). As part of this step, we
identify the spatial extent of any potential stressors and recognize that the spatial extent
of those stressors may change with time. The spatial extent of these stressors is the
“action area” for a consultation.
The second step of our analyses identifies the listed resources (endangered and threatened
species and designated critical habitat) that are likely to occur in the same space and at
the same time as these potential stressors. If we conclude that such co-occurrence is
likely, we then try to estimate the nature of co-occurrence (these represent our Exposure
Analyses). In this step of our analysis, we try to identify the number, age (or life stage),
gender, and life history of the individuals that are likely to be exposed to an action’s
effects and the populations or subpopulations those individuals represent.
Once we identify which listed resources are likely to be exposed to potential stressors
associated with an action and the nature of that exposure, in the third step of our analysis
we examine the scientific and commercial data available to determine whether and how
those listed resources are likely to respond given their exposure (these represent our
Response Analyses). We integrate the exposure and response analyses to assess the risk
to listed individuals and their habitat from the stressors of the action (these represent our
Risk Characterization). NMFS’ analysis is ultimately a qualitative assessment that draws
on a variety of quantitative and qualitative tools and measures to address risk to listed
resources.
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