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Q02<tv9 8 ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT continued from page 5 Ihe pallid sturgeon, a fish Ihal has changed very lillle since ils appearance 200 million yem ago. Although the fish is so elusive and rare lhat not much is known about its life cycle, spawning and feeding habils, the Pick-Sloan mainslem dams are being blamed for ils reduction. The Fish and Wildlife Service has recently released a draft recovery plan for !he pallid sturgeon (see sidebar on p. 9) thai states, "The pri- mary reason fonhe decline of the pallid sturgeon'is believed 10 be the extensive modifications of the riverine habitats in the Missouri River," specifically the conSINC- tion of Ihe six main slem darns and the channelization of !he river below Sioux City. The plan calls for operation of lhe "Missouri River main slem dams to simu- late the natural processes of historic flow patterns and sedimentation." Calling for Change The upcoming reauthorization of the ESA has generaled greal interest among not only hydropower customers, but also many olher groups and individuals, in working 10 change the act 10 provide belle~ balance in ilS implementation. The forces of change are growing and they include some powerful forces indeed: the National Rural Electric'Cooperative Association (NRECA); the American Pub- lic Power Associalion (APPA); the Nalion- aI Waler Resources Association; the National Association of Homebuilders; and many other organizalions are calling for ch~ges in how Ihe aCI is implemented. Specifically, those seeking changes in the act's enforcement want to see decisions about endangered species made ,.,ith more public participation and more considera- tion for Ihe coslS nOI only to government, but also to individuals and communities. The National Endangered Species ACI Refonn Coalition (NESARC), which num- bers NRECA, Mid-West, Tri-State G&T, Plains G&T and other consumer-owned utility groups among its members, clearly slates Ihal it is not allempting to gUllhe act or weaken ils mission. NESARC suppons continuing the requirement Ihatlistings be based solely on biology, but wanls harder scientific evidence required for lisling a species, and wants Ihe evidence subjecled 10 scienlific peer review. NESARC funher suppons changes in recovery plan development Ihat would require a draft plan at Ihe time of listing, wi!h a final plan one year laler, !hat takes into account biological, economic and intergovernmental faclors and provides at least four alternatives be analyzed for each recovery plan. Public hearings would be required in each affected area before the final recovery plan is issued. The Secre- tary of the appropriate department would be required to select an altemalive and lisl the delailed reasons for Ihe selection in the final plan, along wilh the economic impacts on bolh public and privaie seclors. NESARC also calls for simpler and less time<onsuming consultation proce- dures for private individuals, similar 10 Ihose used by federal agencies, conlending Ihatlhe procedures now used by privale individuals are more burdensome and require stricter standards. The coalition also argues Ihat severe limitations placed on the use of privale property to protect an endangered species constitute a ''taking'' and Iherefore entitle the property owner 10 compel\S3tion from Ihe government Funher, Ihe he coalilion calls for more emphasis on propagation and species sup- pon programs, and for incentives for pri- vate organizations and individuals to par- ticipate in voluntary set-aside of critical habitat. Selling Priorities Forces on both sides of Ihe debale have introduced amendments to Ihe aCI, including Reps. Gerry Studds (D-Mass) and John Dingell (D-Mich), who call for the act to be made more stringent, and by Reps. Bill Tauzin (D-La.) and Jack Fields (R-Texas), whose amendments encompass many of the NESARC's proposals. BUlone . shared concern reflecled in vinually every proposed amendment is Ihe need for increased funding for recovery of endan- gered species. And Ihis poinlS to Ihe heart of a significant problem. Wilh the cost of listing a single species estimated at $60,000, and with more !han 3,000 species awaiting final designalion, funding for sim- ply Iisling candidate species is inadC{juale. Funding for full-scale recovery plans is greatly lacking. Even Ihose actively involved in wildlife preservation effons complain Ihat most of Ihe funds go to anempts to preserve "charismatic megafau- na" such as the Rorida panlher, gray wolf and bald eagle, while olher less visible species Ihat may be more imponant 10 an ecosyslem's balance gellillle allention. This problem has prompted calls from some quarters for a "triage" approach that concentrates on allempting to recover species wilh Ihe best chances for survival, and conceding Ihe probable loss of other species Ihat have greally deleriorated in numbers. Yet, say those opposed to Ihis approach, Ihis scheme would have wrillen off the California condor, which Ihrough an expensive captive breeding program may now have a chance at recovery. As more and more congressional debates come down to Ihe question'."How do we pay for this?", fmancing the dictates of the Endangered Species Acl will be another difficuh point in Ihe coming fight i , j I \ I Mid-West Reporter Fall 1992