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require federal funding. In short, while important steps have been taken, real challenges lie 

 ahead. 



7. Better regional coordination among federal, state, tribal and private entities would 

 improve the region's ^ort to increase salmon survivaL We offer the following 

 comments on alternatives discussed in Chairman DeFazio's letter: 



Regional coordination: 



One purpose of the Northwest Power Act is to "...provide for the participation and 

 consultation of ... Federal and State fish and wildlife agencies and appropriate Indian 

 tribes ... in the development of regional plans and programs related to ... enhancing fish 

 and wildlife resources" (Section 2.(3) and 2.(3)(A)). Later, the Act says that the 

 Bonneville Administrator and federal river management agencies shall consult with 

 federal fish and wildlife agencies and Indian tribes "... and shall, to the greatest extent 

 practicable, coordinate their actions" (Section 4.(h)(l 1)(B)). 



While this would appear to be clear direction to the federal agencies to coordinate 

 their actions under the Strategy for Salmon and fulfill their responsibilities under the Act, 

 it is easier to state the need for coordination than it is to achieve. The apparent lack of 

 coordination was mentioned repeatedly by witnesses who testified at a Portland field 

 hearing of the Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee of the House of Representatives 

 on August 10, 1993. We will continue to work in partnership with state, tribal and 

 federal governments, and we are committed to rebuilding objectives that protect and 

 enhance weak stocks while meeting harvest objectives. 



We recognize that there are important federal interests in the Columbia River. We 

 have committed to woik with the federal agencies to integrate the Council's processes 

 with those of the National Environmental Policy Act and Endangered Species Act. We 

 recognize that the decline of the salmon runs, particularly Snake River chinook, poses 

 special problems for Indian tribes to whom the U.S. government has special 

 responsibilities. The Council's program must be consistent with the rights of these tribes. 

 We are committed to meeting our own responsibilities and to helping the federal agencies 

 meet theirs while addressing the problems of weak stocks. 



As I mentioned earlier, the Council believes it is important for the region to address 

 the Endangered Species Act, the Northwest Power Act and federal trust obligations to the 

 tribes in a unified and consistent manner. 



Additional public involvement in existing federal processes 



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