BOARD01398

• Board Meeting Date: 7/24/2000
• Description: CWCB Director's Report
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

Federal and Interstate Issues

Endangered Fish Funding Legislation: HR 2348, the bill to authorize the Bureau of
Reclamation (Reclamation) to provide cost sharing for the Upper Colorado and San Juan River
endangered fish recovery programs passed the House Resources Committee on June 20. The bill
is waiting for consideration by the U.S, House of Representatives, For more information see
hUp:/ Ithomas.loc. gov/cgi-binlouervfz?c 106:H.R,2348.

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Implementation Committee Meeting Canceled: The Implementation Committee of the
Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Programs was scheduled to meet on July 17 in
Salt Lake City to review draft Recovery Goals for the four endangered fish species. Due to
scheduling conflicts and the need to review and discuss changes to the draft recovery goals prior
to the meeting, the meeting was canceled and has not been rescheduled.

Policy Guidance On HCPs: On June I the U.S. Fish and Wildlife (USFWS) published
a final addendum to the Handbook for Habitat Conservation Planning and Incidental Take
Permitting Process (HCP Handbook). This addendum provides clarifying guidance regarding the
incidental take permit program.

Lynx Planning: On June 30 the U.S. Forest Service announced its intent to prepare an
EIS in conjunction with amendments to land and resource management plans to address lynx
issues for the Routt, Arapaho and Roosevelt, Pike and San Isabel; Sun Juan; Grand Mesa,
Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests; and the Rio Grande National Forests. The EIS
will also evaluate management actions pertaining to lynx for the White River National Forest.
Comments concerning the scope of the analysis need to be submitted by Aug. 14,2000. The .
Forest Service expects to complete and publish a Draft EIS this fall. A Final EIS is expected to
be completed in early 2001.

EP A Finalizes TMDLs Despite Congressional/State Opposition: On July 11 the EP A
published a final TMDL rule after a recent congressional effort to delay EP A from publishing the
rule. The EP A said it agreed to a number of changes in the program in response to the comments
it has, including those from members of Congress, In general, the EP A said the changes provide
states with more flexibility in implementing the program. These changes include: dropping
provisions that required new permits for forestry, livestock, and aquaculture operations; giving
states four years instead of two years to update inventories of polluted waters; and allowing
states to establish their own schedules for when polluted waters will achieve health standards, not
to exceed 15 years. The EPA is making the effective date for the program Oct.!, 2001. The
proposed program was announced in August 1999,

Indian Water Rights Report Final: We received a copy of the final report issued by the
Secretary's Working Group on the Endangered Sp[ecies Act and Indian water Rights on June 9.
A copy ofthe report was mailed to each Board member. A cover letter indiacted that the report
will be published in the Fedearl Register and once this has happened, we will have an additional
90 -days to review and comment on the report before any decision is made.

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