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- ~ 002579 environmental compliance, We agreed that the AiVlWG and the TWG needed (0 help expedite compliance. and that the details of all proposed actions or decisions should be forwarded to the compliance officers of the action agency. the Fish and Wildlife Service. and the agencies responsible for cultural resources under the Programmatic Agreement. We discussed the possibility of undertaking a programmatic consultation in order to expedite reconsultation on individual future actions, (It was mentioned that at Flaming Gorge target flows are selected each spring by Reclamation. W AP A and the Service without reconsultation each time. since the original consultation covered a range of flows,) The Service was not clear as to whether a programmatic approach was desirable (or even possible) for consultation on actions under the AMP. since they did not see the need to change the way ESA compliance is currently undertaken for Glen Canyon Dam. We discussed briefly the coordination with GCMRC on Biological Opinion issues. Reclamation explained that it uses the GCMRC to meet the requirements of the BO, Essentially. Reclamation must be satisfied that the necessary endangered species work is being contracted for in the RFPs. The issue seemed to boil down to a process question, which all parties agreed could be readily addressed. Consensus Answers to the Ouestions We agreed on the following answers to the questions lYe were to address: (1) What does Adaptive Management mean relative to NEPA and the ESA? Do we need new or revised NEPA documents? Adaptive Management does not preclude the need for environmental compliance. Since it will probably present us with compressed time frames in which to complete the necessary compliance, it forces us to think in advance about what our compliance needs will be. Depending upon Reclamation's evaluation of the potential benefits of a programmatic NEP A approach, we may want to begin preparation of programmatic NEP A documents for some or all aspects of the AMP. (2) Are Biological Opinion issues/information needs adequately coordinated with the GCMRC? We believe they are, but there may be a need to spell out more firmly a process for ensuring such coordination. How the BO issues will be addressed by the GCMRC should be described and incorporated into the work plan development. We suggest that those elements of the GCMRC annual plan which address BO issues be specifically flagged as such, We also suggest a BO task group. to include Reclamation. the Service. and the GCMRC. coordinate these BO issues. 3 12110/97