The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has confirmed two important points under the federal Endangered Species Act: 

• A “cumulative effect” under the ESA is different from a “cumulative impact” under NEPA
• No “cumulative effects” analysis is required in informal ESA section 7 consultations.

Conservation Congress v. U.S. Forest Service, No. 12-16452 (9th Cir. 2013).  …