Welcome to the SABER forum! This
page is intended to stimulate discussion
about current environmental issues where cooperative and collaborative
approaches are
being used to reach solutions. Your constructive viewpoints are welcome.
To participate, please send your comments to hadams@lclark.edu. Comments will be
posted on a regular basis.
Forum Topic #1
The National Marine Fisheries Services (NMFS) recently issued its Final
4(d) rules to protect 14 populations of salmon and steelhead from
California's Central Valley to Washington's Puget Sound. These rules
were issued after NMFS solicited and considered input from the public
and other interested parties on proposed 4(d) rules earlier this year. The
Final 4(d) rules applying to steelhead went into effect
on August 19, 2000, and the rules for the remaining populations will go
into effect in December 2000. Information on the Final 4(d) rules
can be found at NMFS Final 4(d)
Rules for Pacific Salmon.
One of the key provisions of the new
rules
is the creation of two exemptions from the "takings" prohibition of the
Endangered Species Act (ESA). One exemption is for existing programs that
NMFS has specifically approved, such as ODOT routine road
maintenance programs and State of Washington forest practices. The second
exemption is for general categories of state and local activities that
NMFS may exempt upon application for exemption by a state or local
entity.
Do you think these exemptions unduly interfere with salmon
recovery
efforts in the
Pacific Northwest, or do they provide a more workable solution for salmon
recovery?
|
