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<br />through the approval process. Contracts will be signed with certain issues <br />only outlined but everyone will be on the hook for making sure these <br />issues are addressed. <br />. Tom said that he talked to Pete Plage (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) <br />about the process and he seems pleased with the progress. Pete will be <br />tied up soon with state-wide Preble's reclassification so Tom's advice is to <br />utilize Pete's time now before he gets too busy. <br />. Question from Rick to Mary: What is the status of the wetlands portion of <br />the Mitigation Plan? Mary answered that decisions on wetlands should go <br />faster because they are using an existing model for this portion. Mary is <br />meeting with the professor from the University of Colorado that created <br />the model to make sure that they are using it correctly. <br />. Eric added that this wetland model is very well known and used so he is <br />thinking that it should not have to go through rigorous COE review. The <br />bird and Preble's models are being created specifically for this project so <br />they will be subject to more review. He said that Mary's work will prove <br />that the incremental mitigation process is working and he is pleased with <br />the approach. It is ecosystem based and could become a model for the <br />COE to use in future projects. <br />. Rick expressed concern that all entities involved are not connected. He <br />listed Ottertail Environmental, Tetra Tech, ERO Resources, and the DOW. <br />Eric responded that he feels like the process is going well and feels <br />comfortable with what is going on. He does not foresee that there will be <br />any major problems. Gary confirmed that Tetra Tech and Ottertail are in <br />regular communication with ERO regarding the mitigation plan. <br />. Rick added that in Chapter 4 all the impacts are defined but then right <br />after that they should talk about the mitigation. He thinks after the <br />Mitigation Plan is finalized there should be portions of it in this chapter. <br />Gary reminded Rick that Table 2-8 (which is being reviewed by the Corps) <br />includes a summary of impacts and mitigation actions. <br />. Question from Tom to Eric: How informed is the ITR team and the AFB <br />team about the holes in Chapter 4? We want them to know that the <br />Mitigation Plan is currently a gap in the process. Eric said that he will sit <br />down the parties involved and let them know where there are holes and let <br />them know where they will add more detail. The plan is to get in front of <br />the AFB with acknowledged gaps. The general rule is that presenters <br />must have at least 70% of the documentation complete before they go in <br />front of the AFB. Eric is confident that they have more than 70% now. <br />The ITR and AFB teams have already been selected and have been given <br />some preliminary drafts of the early chapters so they are not completely <br />uninformed. <br />. Rick said that Betty Peake (COE) sent him an email asking whether or not <br />the Cooperators are moving forward on securing any offsite mitigation <br />sites. She wanted to know if there was some project that could be used <br />now. Rick wanted some clarification on what projects Betty might be <br />talking about. Tom and Gary reminded Rick that Tom Ryon (Ottertail <br /> <br />Tetra Tech <br /> <br />4 <br />