[3] New Look For FPC Oversight Board OK'd By Power Council

The Northwest Power and Conservation Council approved membership category changes to the board that oversees actions of the Fish Passage Center. The council voted 6-2, with only Oregon members on the nay side at last month's Council meeting.

Now, one member will come from the NPCC who will also serve as chair. The new board will also have two tribal members representing upper and lower Basin interests, two representatives from state fish and wildlife agencies, and two members from the scientific community, one of which represents NOAA Fisheries.

The board will conduct an annual performance review of the FPC and make sure that the fish passage database conforms to standards of data management.

NPCC chair Tom Karier said the recent court decision that kept the Bonneville Power Administration from defunding the FPC has sent a clear signal that the council's program needs to be enforced.

"We intend to ensure that the Fish Passage Center's operations are consistent with the highest standards of scientific integrity, including transparency and parity for all Basin interests," Karier said.

The Council is now soliciting nominations to fill the FPC board's slots.

Oregon had supported a proposal to move the FPC under the direct supervision of the Columbia Fish and Wildlife Authority. CBFWA didn't agree with the council's proposed representation on the board, and wanted it to include the public and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. CBFWA also wanted to pick a technical advisory committee to advise the oversight board on technical issues.

The Columbia Inter-Tribal Fish Commission also had reservations about the new board. It said the council had overstepped the bounds of the Northwest Power Act by monitoring performance standards.

It also wasn't sure the council could play a neutral oversight role "that would not hinder our ability to seek and provide safe passage at dams." -B. R.

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