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Question 2: With many salmon stocks currently listed as threatened or endangered species 

 on the Columbia/Snake River system and the nearly certain listing of more 

 salmon stocks, is this a prudent time for BPA to cut its Fish and Wildlife 

 program'' 



Answer: BPA is faced with falling revenues and rising costs. These facts are forcing 



us to take a hard look at the way BPA operates and examine the proposed 

 funding levels for all our programs, including the Fish and Wildlife 

 Program If forecasts of revenues and expenses had not changed 

 dramatically from the close of Programs in Perspectives (PIP) in October 

 1 992, to the present, it is uncertain whether BPA would be conducting 

 such a broad review of its planned program budgets as it is now 

 performing Under current circumstances and in an effort to keep the 

 proposed rate increase below 20 percent, it is necessary to reevaluate ail 

 program levels for FY 1993, 1994, and 1995. 



Decisions on specific program level reductions have yet to be made In our 

 decision making process, BPA will carefijlly evaluate all components of the fish 

 and wildlife program before any reductions in funding are approved. BPA 

 recognizes its' significant and important role it has in fish and wildlife 

 protection, mitigation, and enhancement within the Columbia River Basin 



BPA further recognizes that its responsibilities under the Endangered Species 

 Act are sigificant and will increase should additional species be listed. These 

 responsibilities include implementing the National Marine Fisheries Service's 

 Recovery Plan for threatened and endangered salmon in 



