102 



Congressf of tfje Winitzt States 



ildsiiinstolu ac 20515 

 March 24. 1993 



Secretary Waiicn Christopher 

 DcDartment of Stale 

 2201 C Street NW 

 Washington. D.C 20520 



Dear Mr. Secretary: 



We have been foUowmg closely the Pacific Salmon Trcary (PST) negotianons with 

 Oanatin We already have cxpiessed to you the importance of these negotiations toward posinve 

 acaons to restore the health ot Northwest salmon stocks and avoid fuonc listings under the 

 Endangered Species Act (£SA) while maintaining viable Indian and nnn-Indi£n fisheries on Fraser 

 River stocks. 



We are concerned about a lack ot" progress. Nothing has been done within the Pacific 

 Salmon Commission to address the 1993 conservation concerns forchinook stocks Usted nnder the 

 ESA or for coho stocks leturmng to Northwest streams. 



While we would have prefencd acnon within the Commission, we do not share the 

 conclusion that the lack of progress is the incviiablc outcome of the votmg requirements of the 

 U.S. Secnon to the Commission. We believe you and U.S. Commissioner Ambassador David 

 Colson have been provided ample authority to address conscrvarion concerns and U.S. Treaty 

 obligations. 



While we arc convinced that a bilateral agreement through the Cotninission is in the best 

 interest of both countries, it is impeiaiivc that the United States provide the reqtnied leadership that 

 results in an acceptable agreement with Cinnrlri Moreover, we believe that the stmctuze of the 

 Conmiission and the U.S. Section were never intcnticd to allow the frustration of intemadonal 

 commitments by the U.S. or serious domesric conservation efforts. 



We urge you to use your authorities, including govemment-to-govcmment action if 

 necessary, to break any impasse so that an acceptable 1993 regime on stocks returning to the 

 Northwest is in place prior to completion on April 9, 1993, of our domestic management process. 



We understand that the U.S. Secnon is discussing a promising long-term and 

 comprehensive approach to salmon management under the Tieary. Such an approach would 

 include commitments to i muio ve the producnvity of natural stocks thereby addressing future ESA 

 concerns, development of harvest regunes that respond to changes in abundance of stocks, and 

 nectlcd ciiaiigcs in the process of deasion-making with the Commission. We are prepared to 

 consider favorably reasonable proposals requiring Congressional action to put into place a long- 

 term, comprehensive regime However, we will be very distuibcd if the opportonity to address 

 1 993 concerns is lost duB-to^aciion of ±e Commission or the United States. 



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