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Final Minutes
Governance Committee Meeting
Conference Call
Call to Order - Don Ament, Governance Committee (GC) Chair, called the meeting to order at 9:10 a.m. MST and asked that Dale Strickland, Executive Director, perform a roll call of conference call participants (see participant list below). Don noted that Paul Currier and Dan Luecke would be the two voting participants representing the environmental members.
Cooperative Agreement Extension
Ralph Morgenweck moved to accept the document "Extension of the Cooperative Agreement for Platte River Research and Other Efforts Relating to Endangered Species Habitats along the Central Platte River, Nebraska." Mike Besson seconded the motion. Don asked for discussion.
Dayle Williamson, Cooperative Agreement Extension Committee Chair, gave a brief overview of the document and outlined its intent. The document extends the Cooperative Agreement from December 31, 2000, to June 30, 2003, and allows the Governance Committee to extend the Cooperative Agreement for six additional months, if needed. The Extension Document also acknowledges that funding for the extension period is to be within the original amount identified in the 1997 Cooperative Agreement. Dayle noted that there were 19 original milestones requiring completion and 33 new milestones and subtasks identified by the Extension Document for completion. Dale Strickland reminded all parties that milestone A2-EXT allows for review and refinement of milestones.
Brian Barels expressed concern related to the state's sediment study timeline. In particular the timeline identifies the completion of the report by August 15, 2001 and agreement on Program responsibilities only two weeks later. Brian asked that all parties realize that this may become an issue that will be addressed at that time. Kent Holsinger noted that a change included in milestone W4-EXT (related to Colorado's future depletion plan) may dictate a change in other areas. There was agreement to modify the wording in Table 1, milestone W8-1. There was some discussion regarding whether W4-EXT should refer to Tamarack Phase I or II. There was agreement that it should include reference to Tamarack Phase II. Colorado asked for clarification from the DOI regarding "analysis of potential effects…on pulse flow frequency and magnitude" as it relates to depletion plans. Mark Butler explained that the EIS and biological opinion need to include an analysis of the effects of each state's depletion plans on pulse flows. The DOI would like to work with the states to conduct this analysis as opposed to doing it themselves.
Don Ament called for a roll count vote on the motion by Ralph Morgenweck. Dale Strickland asked for the votes:
Nebraska - Dayle Williamson, GC member, voted yes,
Downstream Water Users - Brian Barels, GC member, voted yes,
Upper North Platte Water Users - Dennis Strauch, GC alternate, voted yes,
Wyoming - Mike Besson, GC member, voted yes,
Colorado - Don Ament, GC member, voted yes,
Fish and Wildlife Service - Ralph Morgenweck, GC member, voted yes,
Bureau of Reclamation - Maryanne Bach, GC alternate, voted yes,
Environmental Groups - Paul Currier, GC member voted yes
Dan Luecke, GC member, voted yes
Colorado Water Users - Alan Berryman, GC member, voted yes.
Dale reported a unanimous vote to extend the Cooperative Agreement and accept the Extension Document. Don Ament thanked Dayle Williamson and his committee for their efforts. Maryanne Bach asked for recognition by all parties that the Governance Committee will utilize the Executive Director's office more effectively during the extension.
Dayle suggested that routine expenditures be approved and it was agreed that there will not be a December Finance Committee meeting.
The group discussed the process for each state's Governor and the Secretary of the Interior to submit letters to Don Ament recognizing the extension and what the District's needed in regard to their FERC license requirements. Dayle noted that it would be up to each state and the DOI to insure the proper signatures are secured and letters sent. Brian Barels noted that NPPD would likely need minutes from the conference call, letters from the states and DOI, and the final Extension Document for submission to FERC. David Little also noted that several existing projects are permitted contingent upon the existence of a CA or Program and that these projects would need to be addressed with the FWS.
Adjourn - Maryanne Bach moved that the meeting be adjourned and Mike Besson seconded. The meeting was adjourned at 9:45 a.m. MST.
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