235 



Each of the four Northwest states, an orgaiuzation representing Indian 

 tribes, and the PNCA were then invited to select a member who would 

 serve as part of a task force along with the five member team described 

 above. The role of the task force was to review the proposed operations, 

 then develop a recommended operations plan. The five agencies made a 

 commitment that if the task force was able to reach agreement on a 

 proposal, the agencies would circulate this proposal as their draft plan, 

 subject to public review. [This process was based on the negotiated 

 rulemaking procedures followed by US. EPA and others.] Task force 

 decisions on each Proposed Operation were documented so that the 

 proponent could be informed if the proposal had been adopted, and if not, 

 why not. 



The task force was able to develop consensus on all but two issues, and 

 defined the alternatives and the basis for disagreement on those two 

 alternatives. The five agencies announced the task force recommendations 

 as the agencies' draft plan, and invited public comment on the draft, 

 including the options on the two unresolved issues. A newsletter was 

 distributed describing the draft plan and the optioris. In addition, 

 individuals or groups which had proposed an operation received a notice 

 informing them of the disposition of their Proposed Operation imder the 

 draft plan. Four public meetings were held regionally. In addition, public 

 comment was accepted by mail. A simiunary of public comment was then 

 prepared. 



Final Draft - September 1 5, 1993 66 



