Signatory Agencies

This page contains select resources and agency updates shared by the “Signatory Agencies” related to Eco-Logical or landscape-scale initiatives. The “Signatory Agencies” are the eight agencies who developed and signed Eco-Logical: An Ecosystem Approach to Developing Infrastructure Projects (2006).

They included: the Bureau of Land Management, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Park Service, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and U.S. Forest Service.

These agencies:

• Created a shared vision of how to integrate infrastructure development and ecosystem conservation to harmonize economic, environmental, and social needs and objectives.
• Meet twice a year to share updates on their Eco-Logical and landscape-scale initiatives, identify opportunities to collaborate, and come to consensus on shared priorities.

Summer 2020

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Monarch Butterfly Candidate Conservation Agreement with Assurances
This nationwide Candidate Conservation Agreement with Assurances (CCAA) with an integrated Candidate Conservation Agreement (CCA) for monarch butterflies on energy and transportation lands provides participant agencies regulatory assurances that additional conservation measures will not be required if the monarch is protected under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) if they voluntarily implement conservation measures. The Agreement was finalized in March 2020.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Habitat Focus Areas Story Map
This story map details how habitat focus areas (HFAs) improve ecosystems, benefit communities, and advance scientific management. NOAA HFAs are targeted places where NOAA focuses its programs and investments to address a high priority habitat issue by working with partners and communities. Additional information about HFAs can be found here: https://www.habitatblueprint.noaa.gov/habitat-focus-areas/

Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Navigable Waters Protection Rule: Definition of “Waters of the Unites States”
This final rule establishes the scope of navigable waters regulated under the Clean Water Act. There are twelve (12) categories of exclusions that are not considered waters of the United States (WOTUS). It was published in the Federal Register in April 2020, becoming effective June 2020.

Department of the Interior Implementation Progress Report for Secretarial Order 3362
This implementation progress report released August 2020 details the DOI’s approach, accomplishments, and future actions as it enters into the third year of implementation of Secretarial Order 3363, Improving Habitat Quality in Western Big Game Winter Range and Migration Corridors. Through this Secretarial Order, the USGS, BLM, and USFWS have partnered with State wildlife agencies and funded numerous projects studying wildlife movement.

Winter 2020

Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office Endangered Species Act Section 7 Mapper Version 2.0
This updated version of the mapper tool includes species and critical habitat updates as well as functionality improvements to assist Federal action agencies in identifying the ESA-listed species and critical habitat in their project action area.

Winter 2019

Bureau of Land Management National Seed Strategy
This document includes information on the work being done to address goals of the Seed Strategy, including growing and harvesting the seeds for different ecological purposes.

Bureau of Land Management Instruction Memorandum (IM) 2019-018 on Compensatory Mitigation
This Instruction Memorandum (IM) provides guidance to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) relating to the imposition of offsite compensatory mitigation as a required condition to use the public lands. The BLM must not require compensatory mitigation from public land users. While the BLM will consider voluntary proposals for compensatory mitigation, and state-mandated compensatory mitigation, the BLM will not accept any monetary payment to mitigate the impacts of a proposed action.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Determination of Compensatory Mitigation Credits for the Removal of Obsolete Dams and Other Structures from Rivers and Streams
This document, released in September 2018, discusses the types of credits that can be generated from the removal of these structures. It provides more consistency to the field on the process.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Mitigation Bank Credit Release Schedules and Equivalency in Mitigation Bank and In-Lieu Fee Program Service Areas
This rule gives the USACE authority to approve credits for mitigation banks and ILF programs up front, if the bank is constructed and in accordance with the guidance. Equivalency is also discussed in the rule, which was released in February 2019.

Summer 2018

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers - Engineering with Nature
The Engineering with Nature Initiative enables more sustainable delivery of economic, social, and environmental benefits associated with water resources infrastructure.

U.S. Department of the Interior Secretarial Order 3362
Secretary Zinke signed Secretarial Order 3362 improving habitat quality in western big-game winter range and migration. The Order asked Department of the Interior (DOI) bureaus to identify priority areas or critical habitat for Elk, Mule Deer, and Pronghorn Antelope. All States identify transportation infrastructure as a key piece to protect habitats.

Winter 2018

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Training Course Guide
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service National Conservation Training Center (NCTC) has a new training tool, an interactive course guide that breaks down courses into individual subject matters. If a user has a particular skillset, he or she can discover which courses fit the skillset they are looking for. The tool has a breakdown of what the courses addresses and who can benefit from it.

U.S. Department of the Interior “M-opinion” 37050
In December 2017, the DOI’s Office of the Solicitor issued “M-opinion” 37050 stating that the Migratory Bird Treaty Act does not prohibit incidental take.