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<br /> <br />f f <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />EstiIl Named Deputy Chief: On August 31 st, Forest Service Chief Dale Bosworth name.d former Rocky <br />AJvfountain Regional Director Elizabeth Estill to the post of deputy chief, Programs and Legislation in the <br />Wwashington Office. Estill will now oversee the agency's legislative affairs, policy analysis, and strategic <br />planning and resource assessment staffs. <br /> <br />TMDL Study: The EPA has released its estimated costs for implementing the EPA's July 2000 TMDL <br />program. Based on a draft study, the program could cost between $900 million and $4.3 billion annually. The <br />study follows a June 19th report by the National Academy of Sciences recommending changes to the TMDL <br />program. One key finding of the NAS report was that many states lack sufficient data to develop TMDLs for <br />all their impaired waters. A copy of the study can be reviewed at www.epa.gov/owow/tmdl. <br /> <br />On August 9th, the EP A published notice of its decision to review and revise the proposed rules for <br />implementing the TMDL program. The result is an I8-month delay in the effective date of the TMDL rules <br />published on July 13, 2000. <br /> <br />A TMDL Quick Facts sheet is attached. <br /> <br />American Wildlands v. Browner: On August 9th, the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a district court's <br />ruling that state laws have control over nonpoint source pollution. The court affirmed the district court ruling <br />that the EP A did not violate the CW A when it upheld two 1995 Montana laws that changed the state's water- <br />quality laws. The two 1995 laws changed Montana's "non-degradation" water pollution laws which deal with <br />the amount of pollution that a waterway can hold without harm to wildlife or recreational opportunities. The <br />lawsuit was brought in 1998 by environmental groups claiming the EP A failed in its responsibilities by <br />allowing the lower state water quality standards. <br /> <br />Western Governors' Association Annual Meeting: Fourteen governors and six Canadian premiers <br />. participated in Western Governors' Association (WGA) Conference held August 8-12 in Coeur d'A1eric, <br />Idaho. At the meeting, the governors committed to a collaborative strategy for addressing the threat of <br />wildland fire. The governors also took steps toward ensuring adequate and cost-effective electric <br />transmission, including the signing of a memorandUll3 of understanding with key federal agencies. Further, a <br />Western States' Energy Policy Roadmap was adopted by the governors emphasizing that states must continue <br />to playa role in electric power decisions, and Congress should allow states to create regional mechanisms to <br />decide their common power issues. A nUll3ber of other resolutions were also adopted including positions <br />supporting: (1) negotiated Indian water rights settlements; (2) state conservation agreements under the <br />Endangered Species Act; (3) watershed restoration through partnerships; (4) payment of federal non-tribal <br />fees in general water adjudications; (5) an amendment to the Clean Water Act regarding cleaning up <br />abandoned mines; and (6) reauthorization of the Clean Water Act pertaining to issues of particular western <br />concern. <br /> <br />2002 Farm Bill Recommendations: Staff participated in discussions with other state agencies, farm <br />organizations, and other interested parties to develop a set of recommendations for improving US Dept. of <br />Agriculture conservation programs that will be re-authorized as part of the new Farm Bill being drafted in <br />Congress. Staff's main interest was in ensuring that the Environmental Quality Improvement Program <br />(EQIP) was re-authorized, strengthened, made more flexible, and also funded at increased levels. EQIP is a <br />key component for implementing the Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Program in Western Colorado, <br />and also provides water quality, soil conservation, and wildlife habitat enhancements throughout all areas of <br />the State. A copy of the "White Paper" issued by the group, under the title "Colorado Farm Bill <br />Conservation Coalition" is attached. These recommendations, reached through consensus, are being sent to <br />the Colorado Congressional delegation and will also be shared with other interested parties. Tim Davis with <br />the Colorado Div. of Wildlife should be commended for organizing these discussions and providing the <br />detailed background materials that formed the basis for the "White Paper". <br /> <br />3 <br />