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Biological Evaluations

Consultant Biological Procedures
These procedures will assist consultant practitioners on preparing Biological Evaluations. They include specific protocols within the ADOT Environmental Planning Group, various land resource agencies, and Tribal Nations.

Consultant Biological Procedures

Biological Evaluation Format Guidance
This guidance will assist practitioners in preparing Biological Evaluations. Included is the format for the cover page, headers for each topic, and instructions on completing each header.

Biological Evaluation Format Guidance

Biological Review Format Guidance
This guidance will assist practitioners in preparing Biological Reviews for projects that do not require a Biological Evaluation or Biological Assessment and Evaluation.

Biological Review Format Guidance

Tonto National Forest Biological Form
This form is to be used for geotechnical clearances for biology on the Tonto National Forest. It may also be used for small projects not requiring a Biological Evaluation, as determined by the ADOT Biologist and the Tonto National Forest.

Small Project Biological Evaluation Form

Geotechnical Investigation Biological Clearance Form
This form is a biological compliance checklist for ADOT geotechnical activities. The biologist consultant submits the completed form to the EPG regional biologist for review, and followed by incorporation into the overall geotechnical compliance document.

Geotechnical Investigation Biological Clearance Form

Sample Letters to Agencies
These sample letters are handy examples when doing agency reviewing, requesting agency concurrence, or initiating consultation.

Agency Review Example with the U.S. Forest Service  
Agency Review Example with the U.S. BLM  
Agency Review Example with the Navajo Fish and Wildlife
FHWA to Fish & Wildlife Service Informal Consultation Request  
FHWA to Fish & Wildlife Formal Consultation Request

Qualifications for Biologists
These qualification requirements are for on-call consultants, or project consultants working on biological resource
components of ADOT projects in development, maintenance or construction.

Qualifications for Biologists  

Biology Process Flowchart
This comprehensive flowchart illustrates the various steps that are involved in addressing biological impacts within the environmental process for ADOT's highway improvement projects.

Biology Process Flowchart

Guidelines for Handling Sonoran Desert Tortoises
The Arizona Game and Fish Department developed these guidelines to reduce potential impacts to desert tortoises, and to promote the continued existence of tortoises throughout the state. These guidelines apply to short-term and/or small-scale projects, depending on the number of affected tortoises and specific type of project.

Guidelines for Handling Sonoran Desert Tortoises