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Senator Kempthorne Scientiric peer review in the recovery of endangered salmon COPY FAS - July 7, 1995 - Page 2 



projects must pass through an independent peer rev iew process before they are 

 2) considered for funding b\ a single bod\ of go\ emmental representatives, the Trustee 

 Council. The EVOS peer review examines two basic questions. 1 ) Is the proposed project 

 consistent with restoration objectives established b\ the fiiistee Council'.', and 2) .Are the 

 proposed scientific methods likely to deliv er the product intended'' 



C ombining experiences with the hVOS Trustee ( ouncil those of the Columbia 

 Riv er basin. I see the elements of an institutional structure to serve endangered salmon 

 recov ery as follows; 



A. Consolidate federal expenditures in the C olumbia Basin for salmon recov ery 

 into one Salmon Recovery Fund. 



B .\nnually publish a request for proposals (RFP) to implement salmon recov ery 

 which explains the objectives of salmon recovei^ The RFP is based on the federal 

 salmon recovery plan which shows due deference to the salmon recovery plans of 

 state and tribal governments; the Fish and Wildlife Program of the Northwest 

 Power Planning Council, and the Tribal Recovery Plan of the Columbia River Inter- 

 Tribal Fish Commission. 



C. Annually send all responses from state, federal, tribal, univ ersity. and other 

 sources through an independent scientific peer rev iew process which certifies the 

 extent to which each proposed project supports recov ery objectiv es, and constitutes 

 scientific methods appropnate to the proposed tasks. 



D. Forward the proposals which pass peer review to a council of trustees of the 

 Salmon Recovery Fund, composed of agency repi esentativ es, who dev elop an 

 annual program based on av ailable resources from among those projects which 

 have passed peer rev iew. 



Creating such an institution and process would clearly take much effort and substantial 

 re-direction of fiscal resources. However, having an appropriate institutional structure and 

 process would go a long way toward effectively focusing expenditure of public monies on 

 achieving salmon recovery objectiv es It would also prov ide a regional forum for 

 evaluating the science applied to salmon recov ery actions. Such a regional forum could 

 draw on scientific expertise from anywhere, as required by the circumstances. 



Please call on me if I may be of further service. 



Sincerely, 



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Phillip R. Mundy. PhD 



