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AttarRey-C.rient Privilegad <br />tbc Endaugcrad Spceies Act, § I534, fx)r eacample, the Department may acquire lands <br />fior cmsexvatian of endange,red and threateaed species; such lands are managed by? the <br />F'rsh and Wiidlifoe Servict withiit the Natioual Wildlife Rc#ttge Systsm. Furthcxmore, <br />§ 1536 directs all fiederal agcncios to nti`li= their own eauslYng authoatirs to carry out the <br />purposes of the Endangcrad Spades Act, althougb it dves not provide aclclitional <br />antbarity to agemcics. Section 1536 furth,er slirects all federal apacics to easure ttiat <br />thcir actions da not jeopudixe enda?gerGd dr threatcned spscies or adwersety mvdi£y oT <br />destroy critieal habitais. <br />The Buresu vf Reciamatian (Burtau) vperatGS the North Platte Froiect, whicb exteads <br />nlon,g a 112-mile resrh of the North Ftatte River frana Wyorning iuto northwwtern <br />Ncbraska. The project was autharized by the 5earcUuy of the Interior an Marah 14, <br />1903, and includas vasiaus daAns, rescrvvirs, and water distribuflon facilitics. Ii is avr <br />uadcistaading that the #acitirits and tbeir npcratian c,ontxiimkc to conditions datarmiised <br />by the U.S. F4ah and Wildiife Sczvioe to jeopardize etrtaun thnateued or cndaugered <br />specacs, or to adversely modify or destroy tLase specaes'cribical babitat va'xtbin tlte Platte <br />Rive,r Basin. Ta scldress those impacts, as well as impacts cau.sed by other land and <br />wnter usem the Coaperativo Agreemcnt contemplated the acquisitian andlnx <br />management of land interests in the FIstte River Vallcy iia ceni.ral Ncbraslcs. <br />Rcclamatian law docs mat authoriu the Sr,crctary to acquire lands tor purposes <br />uarela#,ed tfl irrigadon wxter sapply and starage within the projact arca. ThereEore. the <br />$ureau of Reclamatiou cannat acquire lands or interesh iua laads located elseuvhore in <br />Nebxask$ £or ovnsenration puxposas undar its direct project authurities, ia order t,o <br />camply with the re.quirements of seetion 1536 of the FSA.. Howcvtx, the Buraau has <br />been dclcgated a partiaa of the Department's suthority under the Fisb and Wildft <br />Coardinutiaa A.ct tQ 'pr4vide assistauee, thravgh grants or coope:ative agreements, to <br />public ar private arganitzatiaas fz)r the impravement of fisb and wiidlifc habitat assocaated <br />with water bystenns or watex aupplics affectcd by Redamation prnjects." 255 Intcriax <br />pepartmental Manual (DM) 14.1, AprB ?s, 1996. .AGCOrdiagly, we c4ac3ude that the <br />Departmant of the Interior, t}uongb the $ursaa, has the authority to entsr mtv a grss# <br />or vonpemtn+e asreezrsent with pu6lic andlvr privatc antitics in furtheramce of the land <br />acqudsi#ian an.d mwagcment prcgram, to the exteat it can demvastrato that any <br />aoquisidoa, restoration ar managcment af Iand or interests in iand is fivr the <br />improvcmant af fish aud wildlifc habitat assaraatcd a?ith water systcmx or snpplies <br />afrectcd by the Natth Flatte Project ar other Reclamation facailitics withia tbo Platt,e <br />River Basin. The X'ish and Wiltllik 5er4ca possesses its cywn Fisb snd Wildlife <br />Coordinataioxt Act authority, also dclegxted b]r the Secretary, to entcr iwto suc,h <br />agraements. <br />2