After learning (through FOIA) that the Army Corps had “downgraded” the consultation request with NOAA Fisheries Protected Resource Division from “formal” to “expedited informal” we felt it would be prudent to put NOAA on notice that we object to this level of review for a project which clearly has major environmental impacts.

The letter below was our first communication with NOAA questioning the Army Corps decision to “downgrade” the environmental reviews.  Subsequent to this letter other more formal requests were made to NOAA to conduct comprehensive, formal reviews of impacts to protected species and habitats.