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solutions and decisions should be reached by consensus. While that process may take a little <br />longer at the front end, we believe that in the long run, it will be a better solution that can be <br />widely supported. Throughout the process, no one party has forced their position on any of the <br />other parties. We have had to work through our differences. Or, in some cases, we agreed to <br />disagree, but then found a path to keep the process moving forward. I would also like to note that <br />we have been fortunate to have had considerable help and advice from local landowners and <br />private citizens. Their input has greatly improved the options we have considered and will <br />significantly improve the Proposed Program. I would like to thank them for their hard work their <br />time, and their dedication. <br />Piping Plover Critical Habitat <br />I will now provide information to the Committee concerning the process of designating critical <br />habitat for the northern Great Plains population of piping plovers, noted by the Committee as a <br />principal focus of the hearing. My comments will describe the generic procedure associated with <br />the designation process. Finally, I will provide information specific to the piping plover proposal <br />and the likely outcomes of the proposal on the area in which the species and its critical habitat is <br />present. <br />Definition of Critical Habitat <br />The Endangered Species Act (ESA) defines critical habitat, in Section 4, as those specific <br />geographic areas that are essential for the conservation of a threatened or endangered species and <br />which may require special management considerations. <br />A designation does not establish a refuge or sanctuary for the species and only applies in <br />situations where Federal funding or a Federal permit or activity is involved. <br />Not all areas found within the boundaries designated as critical habitat are essential for the <br />conservation of the species. Human-made structures such as boat ramps, roads, and parking lots <br />are not proposed to be designated as critical habitat for the piping plover even though they fall <br />7 <br />