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11 <br /> off-site mitigation that may be required,as well as any interrelated and/or interdependent actions. The <br /> action area is considered to include the surrounding environment likely to experience"effects"from the <br /> project. <br /> For federally listed terrestrial species,the impact area includes those areas which maybe affected by <br /> noise or disturbance from project related activities or changes in activities associated with the use of the <br /> project corridor,as well as those impacts associated with mitigation requirements imposed on the project. <br /> This area is currently not defined,but may extend up to one mile(1 mile)from the project footprint, or <br /> more depending upon the construction equipment required and techniques employed,as well as the <br /> location of mitigation as well as the location and extent of interrelated/interdependent actions. <br /> Project description will be based on information provided by EPWD and is anticipated to include the <br /> expansion of the WPCF into adjacent areas located on Smith Island in the lower Snohomish River. The <br /> expansion is expected to result in direct impacts to wetlands,but no direct impacts to fish-bearing waters <br /> (i.e.,Union Slough or the Snohomish River). <br /> The BA will include a project description(as prepared by EPWD,per task 4 assumptions) and analyze the <br /> level of direct and indirect effects, as well as the effects of interrelated and interdependent actions to <br /> federally protected species.Interrelated and interdependent actions are anticipated to include the <br /> treatment of wastewater from other communities such as the City of Marysville and the City of <br /> Snohomish. However the assessment of the effects of interrelated and interdependent actions will not <br /> include an analysis of an increase in development that has occurred,or may occur as a result of the <br /> increase in the capacity of the Wastewater Treatment Plant and the ability of the increased capacity to <br /> accommodate an increase in development. <br /> The federally protected species and their designated critical habitat to be covered in the BA and for which <br /> potential impacts of the project will be assessed will be determined by accessing the USFWS and NMFS <br /> websites to obtain listed species lists for Snohomish County and by ordering the WDFW Priority Habitat <br /> and Species (PHS) occurrence maps and data. Protected species and critical habitat(as appropriate)are <br /> anticipated to include Chinook salmon of the Puget Sound Evolutionarily Significant Unit(ESU), <br /> steelhead of the Puget Sound Distinct Population Segment(DPS) and bull trout of the Coastal/Puget <br /> Sound DPS;gray whale, Stellar sea lion,marbled murrelet, euchalon, and southern resident orca. Other <br /> federally listed species(i.e.northern spotted owl, Canada lynx, grizzly bear, gray wolf, as well as listed <br /> plant species)will be described in the BA and a determination of No Effect will be made up-front based <br /> on the expected absence of the species and the lack of suitable habitat within the project action area and a <br /> detailed analysis of the effects of the project on these species will not be presented in the BA. <br /> The BA will also include an analysis of Essential Fish Habitat(EFH),per the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery <br /> Management and Conservation Act(Magnuson-Stevens Act),which requires federal agencies to consult <br /> with the NMFS for actions they fund,authorize or permit that could impact EFH for Pacific salmon, <br /> groundfish and/or coastal pelagic species. The proposed project could impact EFH for Pacific salmon. <br /> As the federal lead agency under the ESA and the Magnuson-Stevens Act,the Corps will be responsible <br /> for requesting and completing the Section 7 consultation with the U.S.Fish and Wildlife Service <br /> (USFWS)and the National Marine Fisheries Service(NMFS)per the requirements of the ESA. The <br /> Corps will also be responsible for consultation with NMFS per the requirements of the Magnuson- <br /> Stevens Act. <br /> Deliverables: ICF will prepare a Draft BA that will be provided electronically to EPWD for review.The <br /> Final Draft BA will address one round of review and consolidated comments received from EPWD in <br /> track changes. <br /> Everett Public Works Department,WPCF expansion <br /> 4 <br /> April 12,2012 <br /> 76 <br />