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alternatives for the Forum. As part of the regional review 

 process, the appendix will be coordinated along with the Draft 

 EIS next spring. On behalf of the three SOR agencies, we are 

 providing for the record a copy of the draft preliminary 

 technical appendix. It provides background on the Forum concept 

 and on how operation decisions are currently made, and it 

 provides an initial analysis of the alternatives under review. 



In developing the Forum concept, SOR teams have worked with 

 various regional interests to identify objectives, alternatives, 

 and evaluation criteria. Two key elements have surfaced that 

 define possible Forum alternatives — "control", or who makes 

 decisions on river operations, and "sunshine", or the public 

 visibility of the decision process. These two elements have been 

 combined to identify a broad range of options for the Forum. The 

 following options are being evaluated: 



Forum 1: SOR agencies (Corps of Engineers, Bonneville Power 

 Administration, Reclamation of Reclamation) retain 

 decision making and conduct an enhanced public 

 involvement process. 



Forum 2: SOR agencies retain decision making and receive 



operating recommendations from an existing entity 

 (e.g. Northwest Power Planning Council) which 

 conducts the public involvement process. 



Forum 3: SOR agencies retain decision making and receive 

 operating recommendations from a new entity 

 comprised of regional representatives and which 

 conducts the public involvement process. 



Forum 4: Decision making shared among Federal agencies with 

 jurisdiction, (eg. SOR agencies, NMFS, and USFWS) 

 and staffs conduct appropriate public involvement 

 process, analysis, and related procedures. 



Forum 5: Decision making by a new entity comprised of 



regional representatives. New entity conducts 

 appropriate public involvement process, analysis, 

 and related procedures. 



Forum 6: Decision making by one operating agency (e.g. 

 Corps, Bureau of Reclamation) and that agency 

 conducts enhanced public involvement process. 



Fonam 7: Decision making by another Federal agency (e.g. 

 NMFS, US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)) and 

 that agency conducts appropriate public 

 involvement process, analysis and related 

 procedures. 



