The process is this: first, if there is any federal funding for a project (FHWA, HUD, BIA, etc) then a species list is requested to determine what species are in the vicinity from NOAA, FWS, or WDFW. If there are candidate, listed, threatened or endangered species (state or federally protected), then an environmental assessment will need to be done and sent to FWS, NOAA, WDFW with their determination of Not Likely to Adversely Affect (NLAA) or Likely to Adversely Affect. The FWS, NOAA or WDFW need to determine if the findings are correct and then negotiate if not. IF there are no species listed or protected, then there is no protection (which is what a section 7 consultation provides). No protection means diminished habitat and environment for the species. If WT has their way and the hatcheries are closed and since the Bush administration has drastically cut the budget for FWS and hatchery management, then the production wont be there nor will protection for the salmon already there.

Kind of complicated. They say the ESA is outdated, but it is one that has worked for the most part. When you start getting agriculture, builders, etc whining to their appointed reps, then of course anyone would want to rework something that is working against them at the moment.

Just an inside view