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QO'2'.)1l . . Reciamation's Study of 602(a) Storage Criteria Reclamation has published a notice in the Federal Register on its "Intent to Solicit Public Comments on the Adoption ofan Interim 602(a) Storage Guideline for Management of the Colorado River and to Initiate a National Environmental Policy Act (NEP A) Process. Comments are due on or before March 14,2003. On January 16, 2001, the Secretary of the Interior signed the record of decision (ROD) for the Colorado River Interim Surplus Guidelines. During the public comment period on the draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), the Basin States submitted information concerning interim surplus criteria and other related issues. The final EIS was based in large part on the Basin States' proposal except for Lake Powell "equalization" releases. The Basin States' had proposed that during the Interim Period, 602(a) storage requirements determined in accordance with Article II (I) of the Long-Range Operating Criteria shall utilize a value of not less that 14.85 maf (elevation 3,630 feet) for Lake Powell. Since the Colorado River Basin is in its fourth year of drought, Reclamation is considering adoption of the Basin States' proposal, or a reasonable alternative to it. Consumptive Use of Mainstream Colorado River Water During the past several Board meetings, a discussion of the proposed policy prepared by the California Agencies' Technical Committee entitled Proposed Policy for the Determination of a Diminulion of Supply from Ihe Colorado River As Opposed /0 a Diversion From and Consumplive Use of Mainstream Colorado River Water has been discussed. Currently, both Reclamation and the State of Arizona are reviewing that proposal and are preparing responses to California's proposal. Nevada is in general agreement with the concept contained in the California proposal. A meeting has been scheduled for March 4, 2003, in Las Vegas, Nevada to further discuss how conswnptive use associated with habitat conservation areas developed through the Lower Colorado Multi-Species Conservation Program will be treated in Reclamation's Article V Decree Accounting reports. Prior to the March 4th meeting, both Reclamation and the State of Arizona will distribute their responses to California's proposal. California's Colorado River Water Use Plan Basin Slates Leiter to Secrelary NorIan Included in the Board folder, as an information item, is a letter to Secretary Norton signed by the 12 Senators from the other six Basin States, applauding her decision to suspend the Interim Surplus Guidelines, until such time that the Quantification Settlement Agreement (QSA) is executed. 3