Division may review permit applications for the disposal of dredged and 

 fill materials in navigable waters, for ocean dumping, or for struc- 

 tures or works in navigable waters. The Division works closely with 

 counterparts at District and Division levels of the Army Corps of 

 Engineers, and Regional Offices of the Department of Transportation, 

 the U.S. Coast Guard, the National Marine Fisheries Service, and the 

 Environmental Protection Agency. FWS also maintains strong ties with 

 counterpart state agencies. 



Ecological Services permit responsibilities were evolved from 

 the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, Section 404, and the Rivers 

 and Harbors Act of 1899, Section 10 [7]. 



In 1958, the strength of the FWS in environmental decisions was 

 bolstered by the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act (FWCA) creating 

 a far-reaching advisory role for Federal activities affecting U.S. 

 waters. With the passing of the National Environmental Policy Act 

 of 1969, the need for FWS special expertise gained additional strength. 

 In short, FWS is given the responsibility to take a position on or 

 comment on virtually all applications for Federal Permits for indus- 

 trial development or Federal Public Works projects that may alter 

 environments in navigable U.S. waters. 



1.1.4 Office of Biological Services 



The Office of Biological Services (OBS) of the FWS is organized 

 with a number of subject-oriented national research objectives (Fig. 3). 

 The Coastal Ecosystems Team, based in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, 

 manages portions of OCS-related research. The Team supports an effort 

 to provide basic data and methodologies for evaluation of OCS fish and 

 wildlife related issues. 



OCS oil and gas activity operations are managed by the OCS Coordi- 

 nator of OBS in Washington, D.C, in cooperation with OBS Regional 

 Activity Leaders and one or more Assistant Leaders in each Region and 

 Alaska. 



FWS/OBS participation in the OCS offshore leasing process is 

 channeled through the OCS Coordinator. His responsibilities include 

 review and recommendations concerning environmental issues on BLM oil 

 and gas leasing operations, and on OCS environmental studies. This 

 subject is detailed in Part 2 of this volume. 



The OCS coordinator works closely with the Coastal Ecosystems Team 

 and also with Regional OBS Activity Leaders to implement fish and 



