107 



Question It is my understanding that most of the costs imposed by the 

 NMFS Biological Opinion for the FY 1995 river operating season are actually 

 borne by BPA during FY 1996 Is this true'' 



Answer Yes, some of the costs will occur in fiscal year 1996 as energy is 

 purchased to return water used for fish flow augmentation to the reservoirs. Using 

 hydro regulation models that relied on many possible water year conditions that 

 could occur for 1995, Bonneville estimated that on average, 40 percent of the 

 costs could occur in fiscal year 1996 



Question Is any money included in the Administration's budget request 

 for fiscal year 1996 to offset Bonneville's fish and wildlife costs'!* 



Answer The Administration's fiscal year 1996 budget request does not 

 include an offset to Bonneville's fish and wildlife costs However, last month, the 

 Administration agreed to provide some relief to Bonneville's increasing fish and 

 wildlife investments through implementation of authorities granted under section 

 4(h)(10)(C) of the Pacific Northwest Electric Power Planning and Conservation 

 Act 



Implementation of the Act's authorities will allow Bonneville to recoup 

 about S30 million per year of its direct fish expenses that are allocated to non- 

 power purposes, and an additional estimated $30 million each year in fiscal years 

 1995 and 1996 to offset purchased power costs related to fish 



Question Last July Congressman George Miller, former Chairman of the 

 House Natural Hesources Committee, sent a letter to Secretary O'Leary 

 concerning BPA's efforts to receive some financial relief under section 4(h)(10)(C) 

 of the Northwest Power Act To ensure the official record for the hearing is 

 complete, please provide the Subcommittee with a copy of Congressman Miller's 

 letter, and the Administration's response to it 



Answer 1 will provide the material for the record 



