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<br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />determinations will be published in the Federal Register within the next month. The USFWS has <br />designated critical habitat for 113 of the 1,168 species listed as threatened or endangered. <br /> <br />Black Tailed Prairie Dog Not Listed: The USFWS has determined although the black- <br />tailed prairie dog warrants ESA listing, because other species are in greater need of protection, it <br />will not propose listing at this time. Instead, the prairie dog will be placed on a list of candidate <br />species that is reviewed annually. More information can be found at www.r6.fws.gov. <br /> <br />ESA Hearing: On Mar. I, the House Resources Committee held a hearing on Chairman <br />Don Young's (R-AK) bill (HR 3160) to reauthorize the ESA. Montana Governor Marc Racicot <br />testified, together with USFWS Director Jamie Clark and Penelope Dalton, National Marine <br />Fisheries Service. Governor Racicot testified, on behalf of the Western Governors' Association <br />(WGA), that reauthorization is its highest legislative priority. Governor Racicot summarized <br />twelve principles for reform on which the governors have agreed: <br /> <br />· enhanced authority for State-wide and multi-state Conservation Agreements; <br />· enhanced state role in implementing the ESA; <br />· increased, stable funding; <br />· strong incentives for private landowners like Safe Harbor and No Surprises, funding for <br />habitat conservation planning, and technical assistance; <br />· peer review oflisting and delisting decisions; <br />· designation of critical habitat where appropriate as a part of recovery planning when <br />designation is most sensible and practical; <br />· greatly enhanced public comment and involvement in all aspects ofthe ESA; <br />· eleyation of the recovery of species to a central focus of the Act and incorporate <br />implementation plans to ensure that recovery plans are not only comprehensive and inclusiye <br />in their efforts to conserve species, but also carried out; <br />· enhanced authority for Multispecies and Distinct Habitat Conservation Plans and Strearnlined <br />HCP process for small landowners with small impacts; <br />· increased rigor in the listing process and the ability to address multiple species; <br />· a more rigorous, less costly and more predictable delisting process; and <br />· reaffirmation of the management distinction between endangered and threatened species. <br /> <br />Jamie Clark testified in opposition and said the President would veto the bill. She said the bill <br />eliminates protections available to listed species under current law. <br /> <br />The testimony is available at: www.house.gov/resources/l06congffullcommlOOmarOl. <br /> <br />Federal Reserved Rights/Groundwater: The Western States water Council (WSWC) has <br />reported that private water users have filed a petition for certiorari with the U.S. Supreme Court <br />regarding the recent decision of the Arizona Supreme Court extending the federal reserved rights <br />doctrine to ground water. The petition was filed on February 17, 2000. <br /> <br />Clean Water AcUTMDLs: On Feb. 24 the Senate Agriculture Committee held an oversight <br />hearing on the EP A's proposed Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) regulations. Chairman <br />Richard Lugar stated that, "Many in the agriculture and forestry community have concerns about <br />how these proposed regulations will affect their businesses as well as their involvement in <br />ongoing watershed restoration. Under the Clean Water Act (CW A), states have utilized voluntary <br /> <br />3 <br />