Extension of Cooperative Agreement (2)

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Extension of the Cooperative Agreement for 1'latte IZiver laesearch and Other Efforts iZelating to Endangered Species Habitat Along the CentraI Platte R.iver,lvTebraska August 8, 2046 Bael.groand: A Cooperative Agreement outlining a proposed basinwide program (Program) was signed on July l. 1997 b}° the Governors of Coiorado, Nebraska, and Wyoming and the Secretary of the Interior. The Cooperative Agreeiiient specitied the activities that wei•e to be undertaken in a three-year period while a propased pragram was being reviewed under the National Enviromnental Poiicy Act (NEPA) and Endangered Species Act (ESA). The Cooperative Agreemeiit has been exteiicted several times for the purpose of compieting milestones as well as to complete the 1V`EP A and ESA review processes. Governors from the three states and the Secretary of the Interior all sent }etters to the Governance Comunittee Chair concurring with the extensions. Current Siruatioii: The Governailce Conuilittee and its s-Ltbcotrlmittees hace developed a Program Document. The Program Docuinent and Attachments were aiialyzed as the preferred alternative in the Final EIS. printed on DATE, and the Bialogical Opinion (BO), printed on June Iv, 2006. TinC PYograTi1 lllatel'IaIS 317d alrt&CimleClts 3£Z CJI11j3iete. VJlth a fGb1- 12iiilk-iT excc.j3tlOilo based on the EIS and BO analvses. Program approval and iiutial funding from the State ana Federal Governmei2ts are pending. The Goveniance Corunittee will finalize aIl documents prior to Program implementatian. Extensian Considerations: In view of the current siniation the Governance Committee appraves extending the Co•?pe-ratu..-= Agreement until BZ"_IM. App_?oval of this ettcnsiarr includcs agreenzent b., the Governatiee Conn-iiittee ot-i Calerado"s ESA Seetioi' 711'_'oi1su4tation interir: mitigati;.?n measzn•es for certain specified depletions in Cotorado tliat ma}° occur prior to Program initiaiior.l. A description of titese mitigation tneasures «-as approved by- meinbers of the Govzr-nance Cammittee on December 9, 2003. Funding: The goal of the Governance Comtnittez has been to work within esisting funds available for developing the Frograiii through the Cooperative Agreen2ent. This goal does not address any costs related directly to the preparation of the EIS or Biological Opinion. It is estimated that Cnivemance C'ommittee expendimres froen 1997 through-c ?embier-3f3: 2006- will - - total $?.? M. At the planned Ievel of expenditure, and given the origulal timding set aside for Governance Gonlmittee activities. plus iiitzrest from the Nebraska Coznmunity Foundation. plus the additional fiinds provided bv the Signatories in 200 3 and 2005, a baiance of approximatel`r $??? is estitnated to reniaii1 available oii October 1. 2006. This atiiouut is insufficient to continue Cooperative Aoreement activities t1lrough BA TE. T'Eie Gove?•nance Cozninittee estimates that aii additianaf $:'?? wzll be required for that purpose. T'I2e three states and the Departtnent ot the Intertor agree to provide tlrose additional fujids i.ii tiie fotlowing proportions: DOl - 65.79% (5);