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<br />c..J <br />c <br />r::> <br />t':>' <br />W <br />~ <br /> <br />Hlli; 11 '32 0G:53 T01'I PITTS & ASSOC. <br /> <br />P.6/6 <br /> <br />federal agency consulting on any kind of project may be required by <br />Region 2 to participate. This opens the door to almost unlimited <br />participation by federal agencies, even though they may have <br />nothing to do with one of the primary goals of the project, i.e., <br />"to proceed with water development." <br /> <br />Region 2 adamantly refuses to allow water users or the Southwestern <br />District representatives to participate on the Biology Committee. <br />Instead, Region 2 has decided that the current members of an "ad <br />hoc research group, representing the Bureau of Reclamation, Bureau <br />of Indian Affairs, U.S. Fish and wildlife service (Region 2), U.S, <br />Fish and Wildlife Service (Region 6), Southern Ute Indian Tribe, <br />and the states of New Mexico, Colorado, and Utah, are recognized <br />experts. II These experts will themselves determine who will. be <br />allowed to participate on the Biology committee in the future, even <br />to the extent that if an agency wanted to replace its member on the <br />I'liology committee, it would have to obtain the approval of the. <br />remaining Biology Committee members regarding the qualifications of <br />the replacement. And "the decision to add the nominee to the <br />Biology Committee will be by two thirds majority." This elitist <br />attitude is unworkable. Water users participate actively in all <br />committees, including the Biology committee, of the Upper Basin of <br />the Recovery Program that has been in effect for four years. <br /> <br />The Southwestern District has a vested interest in the success of <br />the Recovery Program to insure that the Animas-La Plata Project can <br />be built in compliance with the Endangered Species Act. There is <br />no valid reason whatsoever for excluding the Southwestern District, <br />or water users from the Biology committee. Furthermore, there is <br />no valid reason for having each and every federal agency in the <br />federal government that undergoes Section 7 consultation on. an <br />action included in this Program, even though the agency may have no <br />relationship whatsoever to the second goal of the Program, i.e. <br />proceeding with water development in the San Juan Basin. <br /> <br />4 <br /> <br />, <br />