Board Meeting 05/03/1985

• Board Meeting Date: 5/3/1985
• Description: Minutes, Agenda, Memorandums May 3, 1985
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Meeting

and must be abandoned. The U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service has •
agreed in principle and thus will phase out this approach. The
Ruedi section 7 will therefore examine several new approaches
that will certainly influence future section 7 ' s . Thus, close
scrutiny is required. The net result to date is that the
states will have an opportunity to review and comment on the
Ruedi biological opinion in late May and prior to final
approval .
The third concern expressed relates to the existing
so-called "Recovery Plans . " These plans as they stand are
inadequate as recovery plans because they state only the
objective and do not provide for any implementation. This is
just not acceptable.
The fourth concern expressed revolved around the substance
of various alternatives being proposed. There will be major
obstacles to overcome in order to implement some of the
considered alternatives .
Finally, the Coordinating Committee and its endeavors must
be concluded. Discussion revolved around what documents are
required of the committee. The question, Should a proposed
recovery plan be prepared? , was also raised. Colorado
indicated that Mr . Getches and staff were writing some
documents for presentation at the next Coordinating Committee •
meeting and will also present the same to the Board at its June
meeting.
Mr . McDonald noted that the environmental groups are
beginning to take an active role in the process by raising
their major concerns in a letter to David Getches . Mr . Getches
is replying to that letter, copy of which will be distributed
to the Board. In conclusion of the discussion, Mr . McDonald
indicated that this item would be considered further at the
June meeting.
c . Reauthorization of Endangered Species Act (Appendix D) .
Mr . McDonald stated that bills reauthorizing the Endangered
Species Act for periods of four to five years have been
introduced in the House (H. R. 1027) and the Senate (S. 725) ,
respectively. Neither bill proposes substantive amendments to
the Act. Hearings were held in the House in mid-March and in
the Senate on April 16 and 18 . Indications are that both the
House and Senate subcommittees of jurisdiction will seek to
mark-up their respective bills during May.
At its March meeting, the Board outlined its position on
the reauthorization of the Act and directed Mr . McDonald to
submit testimony on its behalf at any Congressional hearings .
Five elements comprised the Board ' s position: •
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