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The agencies are presenting this evaluation of the Forum concept in combination with 

 and at the same time as the other major SOR decisions so that the region can consider it 

 as part of the SOR package. The DEIS will display the agencies' evaluation of the 

 alternatives and will hopefully stimulate sigiuficant public review. Once that review is 

 completed, the SOR lead agencies may choose to make a decision on the Forum prior to 

 making the other SOR decisions. An early decision is possible because formal NEPA 

 review of the Forvun is not required, as noted above. The Forum could be used to assist 

 in making the other key SOR decisions, particularly the selection of a long-term System 

 Operating Sti-ategy. No commitment is being made now, but the possibility for this 

 outcome exists and needs to be recognized. Comments on this approach are welcomed. 



1.2 ROLES AND AUTHORITIES OF THE SOR LEAD AGENCIES 



The SOR lead agencies - the Bormeville Power Administration (BPA), the U.S. Army 

 Corps of Engineers (the Corps), and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) - 

 are, in effect, the "decision makers " on river operations. The Corjjs ovms and operates 

 12 of the Federal dams. Reclamation owns and operates the other two. BPA acts as the 

 marketing arm of the system, building and operating a regional trai\smission system, 

 and selling the power from the Inderal dams to more than 150 utilities. 



Historically, each of these agencies had a primary mandate. BPA's primary historic 

 concern was power marketing and delivery. The Corps' two historic concerns were 

 flood control and navigation. Reclamation's primary mandate was water development, 

 primarily for irrigated agriculture, but also for power, flood control, and recreation. 

 Over time, however, each of these agencies has gained added respoi\sibilities for other 

 uses of the river: fisheries, wildlife, recreation, cultural resources, and all the other uses 

 currentiy being evaluated as part of the SOR process. The result has been conflicts 



September 15, 1993 7 



