Will Protected Species Hold Up Your Project? Get a T&E Species Review.

EcoCAT & IPaC screening · Habitat assessments & species surveys · Endangered Species Act compliance

State & Federal Screening · Habitat Assessment · Section 7 Support

EcoCAT & IPaC N. Illinois & the Midwest Free, No-Obligation Quote

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How It Works

Screen the Project

We run your project location through the Illinois DNR’s EcoCAT and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service’s IPaC tool to see which state- and federally listed species and protected sites could be in the vicinity. Many projects clear right here — fast and inexpensive.

Assess the Habitat

If a species is flagged, our ecologists evaluate whether the site actually has suitable habitat for it. No suitable habitat often means no survey is needed — we document a clean finding so your project keeps moving.

Survey & Consult

Where a listed species could be present and affected, we conduct the species-specific survey (some have seasonal windows) and support the Endangered Species Act determination — including Section 7 consultation and avoidance, minimization, or mitigation so the project can proceed in compliance.

Understanding Threatened & Endangered Species Reviews

Plants and animals protected under the federal Endangered Species Act and the Illinois Endangered Species Protection Act can stop a project cold — or, handled early, barely slow it down. A threatened & endangered (T&E) species review answers two questions for your site: could a protected species be present, and if so, what does your project have to do to comply? A3 Environmental’s ecologists run that review from the first desktop screen through, when needed, formal consultation — so species concerns surface on your schedule, not the regulator’s.

It Starts With a Screen: EcoCAT & IPaC

Every review begins with two tools. The Illinois DNR’s EcoCAT (Ecological Compliance Assessment Tool) uses GIS mapping and decision rules to flag whether your project is near state-listed species or Illinois Natural Areas Inventory sites. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service’s IPaC (Information for Planning and Consultation) checks the same location against federally listed species ranges and designated critical habitat. Together they tell us exactly which species — if any — are in play for your parcel. A large share of projects clear at this step.

Habitat Assessment and Species Surveys

If a species is flagged, the next question is whether the site actually offers suitable habitat for it. Our ecologists assess that on the ground; when no suitable habitat is present, we document the finding and your project moves on. When habitat is present and the species could be affected, we conduct the species-specific survey. In Northern Illinois and the Midwest the species we most often address are forest-roosting bats — the northern long-eared bat (federally endangered since 2022), the Indiana bat, and the tricolored bat — and the rusty patched bumble bee. Several of these surveys have seasonal windows, which is why starting early matters.

Consultation and Keeping Your Project Moving

Where a project may affect a listed species, the Endangered Species Act calls for an effect determination — and, for projects with a federal nexus, Section 7 consultation with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. A3 Environmental reaches and documents the right determination, coordinates with the Service’s field office, and designs avoidance, minimization, and mitigation measures so the work can proceed in compliance. A3 Environmental’s ecological team performs species reviews throughout Northern Illinois and the Midwest, within roughly a two-hour radius of Naperville — and will travel for the right project — backed by a 4.9★ Google rating since 2015.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a threatened & endangered species review?

It is the process of determining whether a development or infrastructure project could affect plants or animals protected under the federal Endangered Species Act or the Illinois Endangered Species Protection Act, and what the project must do about it. A3 Environmental screens the project location against state and federal species data, assesses whether suitable habitat is present, conducts species-specific surveys when warranted, and supports the consultation that lets a project move forward in compliance.

What are EcoCAT and IPaC?

They are the two screening tools that start a species review. EcoCAT, the Illinois DNR Ecological Compliance Assessment Tool, uses GIS mapping and decision rules to check whether a project is near state-listed threatened or endangered species or Illinois Natural Areas Inventory sites, and returns a natural resource review. IPaC, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Information for Planning and Consultation tool, cross-references the project location against federally listed species ranges and designated critical habitat. A3 Environmental runs both and interprets the results for your project.

Which species commonly affect projects in our area?

In Northern Illinois and the Midwest the most frequently encountered federally listed species include forest-roosting bats — the northern long-eared bat (reclassified as endangered in 2022), the Indiana bat, and the tricolored bat — and the rusty patched bumble bee. Tree clearing, bridge and culvert work, and projects near suitable grassland or woodland habitat are the activities most likely to trigger a review. The actual list for any site comes from the EcoCAT and IPaC results for that exact location.

What is Section 7 consultation?

Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act requires federal agencies (or applicants whose projects involve federal funding or permits) to ensure their actions are not likely to jeopardize listed species. After habitat assessment and any surveys, A3 Environmental helps reach and document the appropriate effect determination — “no effect,” “may affect, not likely to adversely affect,” or “may affect, likely to adversely affect” — and, where needed, works with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service field office and builds in avoidance, minimization, and mitigation so the project can proceed.

Does my project really need a species survey?

Not always — and that is the point of starting with a screen. Many projects clear at the EcoCAT/IPaC step or after a habitat assessment shows no suitable habitat is present, which avoids the cost and the seasonal timing of a full survey. A survey is only needed when a listed species could plausibly be present and the project could affect it. A3 Environmental scopes the review so you do the least work the regulations require.

How much does a species review cost and how long does it take?

Cost and schedule depend on what the screen turns up — a clean EcoCAT/IPaC result is fast and inexpensive, while a habitat assessment, a species-specific survey (some of which have seasonal windows, such as summer survey periods for bats), or formal Section 7 consultation add time. A3 Environmental provides a scoped quote up front; fill out our form or call (888) 405-1742 to get started.