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Senator Kempthorne. I also have a question relative to the let- 

 ter dated May 30, 1995 from your own recovery team headed by 

 Dr. Bevan. This letter is critical of the spill program. It says, "Spill- 

 ing at collector dams is not, in our judgment, a viable recovery 

 method even without gas bubble mortality." Have you responded to 

 that letter and if so, what is the response? 



Mr. Stelle. I haven't responded in writing. Senator. I have met 

 with the team several times on that subject, both prior to and ailer 

 the drafting of the letter. I believe that one, I don't quarrel with 

 some of the assumptions and analyses that the team used in reach- 

 ing that conclusion. The important point that I would offer, though, 

 is that in my judgment, pursuing a spill program at the down- 

 stream projects doesn't necessarily represent a conclusion that it is 

 better overall; it represents a conclusion that it is necessary to de- 

 velop the information to test whether or not we can improve in- 

 river migration conditions sufficiently so that they become an es- 

 sential part of the recovery effort. It is, in essence, a large-scale, 

 multiyear evaluation of both the benefits of transportation and in- 

 river migrations. I think the team understands that. I think the 

 team has made its own conclusion on that larger evaluation. 



In my view, the team's point deserves to be reviewed. I men- 

 tioned earlier on in my testimony that it would be our intention to 

 review this fall both the data generated by the 1995 program and 

 the basic parameters governing that spill program with the team's 

 recommendation. 



Senator Kempthorne. Does that mean that the spill program 

 can be used as an experiment? 



Mr. Stelle. The spill program is part of a larger evaluation, yes, 

 sir. 



Senator Kempthorne. So it can be used as an experiment? 



Mr. Stelle. Absolutely, sir. 



Senator Kempthorne. Colonel Bohn, would you respond to this? 

 There are a number of people who are dedicated to the recovery of 

 salmon. Are there too many plavers in the decisionmaking process 

 to bring about the recovery of salmon? 



Colonel Bohn. Mr. Chairman, I think I would say that each one 

 of those players, each one of those interested parties has a very im- 

 portant role. In our negotiations and consultations with the Na- 

 tional Marine Fisheries Service, we have tried to simplify the proc- 

 ess by relying upon their best scientific judgment to make those 

 tough biological calls on the biological justifications for each meas- 

 ure. We feel they are best qualified to do that. That has simplified 

 the process for us and we get clear guidance from the National Ma- 

 rine Fisheries Service. We go into consultations over that; discuss 

 it at great length and then we make final decisions on the oper- 

 ations of our projects. 



Senator Kempthorne. Maybe I should ask Mr. Stelle that ques- 

 tion. Are there too many players in the decisionmaking process? 



Mr. Stelle. Senator, that's a good question and a dimcult ques- 

 tion and I think the answer is necessarily no, on one basic level. 

 That is, there are legitimate interests in this basin and in the re- 

 gion as you well know among a number of different governments. 

 Each State has a substantial interest in the management of this 

 basin and in the protection of its fish and wildlife resources. The 



