11 May 2017
FISHPASSAGEO&MCOORDINATIONTEAM(FPOM)
CHARTER
PURPOSEOF CHARTER
Thischarterprovidestheguidelinesthisteamwillusetoaccomplishitsstatedpurpose. It isrecognizedbyallmembersthatchangeisoccurringandwillcontinuetooccur. Therefore,itisfurtherrecognizedthatthischarterisadynamicdocumentsubjectto modification,accomplishedaccordingtotheDecisionMakingProcessbelow.
GROUPNAME
FishPassageO&MCoordinationTeam(FPOM)
AREAOFCONCERN
FordeliberationsoftheFPOM,theareaofconcernencompassestheCorpsofEngineers (COE)fourlowermainstemColumbiaRiverProjects(McNary (MCN), John Day (JDA), The Dalles (TDA), and Bonneville (BON)),thefourlowerSnake RiverProjects(Lower Granite (LWG), Little Goose (LGS), Lower Monumental (LMN), and Ice Harbor (IHR), and Dworshak (DWR).
FPOM PURPOSE
TheFPOMeffortsshallbeconductedinamannerthatwillprovideaforumforRegional coordination,gatheringinformationanddevelopmentofrecommendationsonthe operation,maintenanceandconstructionproceduresoractivitieswhichmayaffectfish passagethroughtheninecoveredCOEprojects. Conclusionsreachedatthemeetings will beconsideredofficialpositionsunlesswrittenconfirmationisreceivedfrom appropriateagencies. TheCOEretainstherighttomakefinaldecisionsonanvactionsthatarenotlikelytoaffectEndangeredSpeciesAct(ESA)listedstocks.
MEETINGS
TheFPOMshallmeetthe second Thursday of each month unless otherwise coordinated with FPOM representatives. ThedesignatedCo Chairperson, or representative,shalldistributeadraftagendaanddocumentstobeconsideredatthatmeetingtothoseontheFPOMe-maillistnolaterthanthe Monday priortoa regularly scheduledmeeting
MEMBERSHIP
CooperatingParties-Thefollowingentitiesaredesignatedascooperatingpartiesforthe purposesoffishpassagebytheninecoveredprojects.
BonnevillePowerAdministration(BPA)
ColumbiaRiverInterTribalFishCommission(CRITFC)
Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation (Colville)
Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR)
Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs (CTWS)
Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation (YN)
IdahoDepartmentofFishandGame(IDFG)
NationalMarineFisheriesService(NMFS)
Nez Perce Tribe
NorthwestPowerPlanningCouncil(NWPPC)
OregonDepartmentofFishandWildlife(ODFW)
U.S.ArmyCorpsofEngineers-NorthwesternDivision(NWD)
U.S.ArmyCorpsofEngineers-PortlandDistrict(NWP)
U.S.ArmyCorpsofEngineers-WallaWallaDistrict(NWW)
U.S.FishandWildlifeService(USFWS)
WashingtonDepartmentofFishandWildlife(WDFW)
CooperatorRepresentation-Arepresentativeandanalternateshallbeappointedtothe FPOMbyeachcooperatingparty. Representationisencouragedtoincludepersonnel experiencedwithorknowledgeableabouttheColumbiaRiverprojectsandassociated fishfacilities. Thisfamiliarityshouldbeatalevelenablingtheparticipanttoeffectively participateinthedevelopmentofrecommendationsregardingoperations,maintenance, andconstruction activitiesoftheninecoveredprojects. Lack of cooperator meeting participation without prior coordination with an FPOM co-chair, means binding decisions may be made without their input or concurrence. Membersnotattendingmeetingswillbeviewedasin agreementwithany decisions. Cooperators can remove themselves from participation in the FPOM forum by doing so in writing.
AUTHORITIES
TheFPOMexiststoassisttheCOEincomplyingwiththefollowing:
(1)EndangeredSpeciesAct;
(2)CleanWaterAct
(3)FishandWildlifeCoordinationAct;
(4)PacificNorthwestElectricPowerPlanningandConservationAct;
(5)FloodControlActofMay 17,1950(HouseDocument531);
(6)NationalEnvironmentalPolicyAct(NEPA);
(7)1855TreatyrightsofsignatoryNativeAmericantribesaffectedbytheCOEdams; (8)OtherNativeAmericanrightsprotectedbystatuteand/ortheFederalTrust Responsibility andaffectedbytheCOEdams;and
(9)Otherapplicablefederallaws,treaties,andinterstatecompactsrelatedtotheoperation andmaintenanceofCOEdamsontheColumbiaRiverandtributaries.
OFFICERSANDTERMSOFOFFICE
Co-Chairpersons-ThetwoCOEDistrict's representativesshallserveasCo Chairpersons. EachCo-Chairpersonshallhavetheresponsibilitytoprepareagendas,announcemeetingsandofficiateatmeetings.
This responsibility may be rotated annually or as needed. Until further notice NWP shall prepare meeting minutes and maintain the FPOM website.
FPOMDECISION-MAKINGPROCESS
WhenFPOMdecisionsarenecessary,consensuswillbeemployedindeveloping recommendations. Consensusisdefinedastheunanimityofopinionofallauthorized representativespresentatadulyscheduledformalmeeting. If coordination is undertaken via email between meetings,consensus will be among those submitting written comments within the requested timeframe. Eachcooperatingpartyshall haveasinglevoiceinthedecisionprocess.Where consensuscannotbereachedmembers presentwillbepolledfortheirrespectiveposition. Themeetingminuteswillcontaina summaryofeachmember'spositionthatadequatelyrepresentstheirindividualposition andview. Insuchasituation,whenanactionisnecessary,theactionagencywill determinetheappropriatepositionandmakeitknownassoonaspossible,andinwriting,toallmembers. Conclusionsorrecommendationsreachedatthemeetingsareconsideredofficialpositionsunlesswrittenresponseisreceivedfromappropriate agencies[SALN1] or tribes.[SALN2]
The Official Memorandum of Coordination Form will be used when seeking FPOM coordination on operations, maintenance or construction activities that are not covered by the current Fish Passage Plan. The official Memorandum For Record form will be used for informing FPOM of an incident that has already occurred.
DISPUTERESOLUTIONPROCESS
Anytechnicaldispute,notrequiringanimmediatedecision,arisingfromFPOMthatdoes notaffectESA-listedspecieswillbereferredtotherespectiveCOEDistrictFish[SALN3]Passage Managersfordiscussion. Thedisputingpartiesshall:
a.Providewrittencopiesdescribingthedispute,includingarecommendedresolution totheproblem.
b.RequestameetingwiththerespectiveDistrictFishPassageManagersbeconvened toreviewthedisputeandproposedresolution. Writteninformationdevelopedunder paragrapha.abovewillbeprovidedtotherespectiveDistrictFishPassageManagersfor reviewatleastoneweekinadvanceofthescheduledmeetingdate.
TherespectiveDistrictFishPassageManagersshallconsiderthedisputeandproposed solutionandrecommendanactiontotheDistrictEngineer[SALN4]basedoninputfromall members. Inaddition,disputesmaybediscussedinotherRegionalforumsasdeemed appropriatefortheissuebyFPOMmembers. TherespectiveDistrictEngineershall makethefinaldecisionthatwillgivefullconsiderationtoallinput.
Anytechnicaldispute.notrequiringanimmediatedecision,arisingfromFPOMthatmay affectESA-listedspecieswillbereferredtotheSystemConfigurationTeam(SCT)[SALN5]fordiscussion. SomeoftheseissuesmayalsorequireESAconsultation withNOAA Fisheries. The disputingpartiesshall:
a.Providewrittencopiesdescribingthedispute,includingarecommendedresolution totheproblem.
b.RequestadiscussionatthenextTMTmeetingtoreviewthedisputeandproposed resolution. Writteninformationdevelopedunderparagrapha.abovewillbeprovidedto allSCTmembersforreviewatleastoneweekinadvanceofthescheduledmeetingdate.
TheTMTshallconsiderthedisputeandproposedsolutionandrecommendanaction baseduponinputfromallmembers. Inaddition,disputesmaybediscussedinother RegionalforumsasdeemedappropriatefortheissuebyFPOMmembers. TheSCTwill givefullconsideration toallinputinmakingadecision.[SALN6]
TASK-ORIENTEDTASKGROUPS
Task-oriented issue specificsubgroupsmaybeappointedbythedesignatedCo-Chairperson. Subgroupsshouldkeepup-to-dateinternalworkingrecords. Reportswillbesubmitted bythe.subgroup leadasagreedbyFPOM. Subgroupsshallbe dissolved after their work is complete.
ADVISORS
Advisors(subjectmattertechnicalexperts)maybe calleduponforindefinitetermsas requiredtoenhanceworkprogress.[SALN7]
REPORTS
ThedesignatedCo-Chairpersonisresponsibleforthepreparationandsubmissionof minutesofallFPOMmeetingsforreviewbythemembershippresentatthatsubject meetingnotmorethantenworkingdaysfollowingthemeeting. Uponreceiptofthedraft minutes,themembersshallhaveat least tenworkingdaystoprovidecommentsbacktothe designatedCo-Chairperson. The minutes become final at the following FPOM meeting.Membersnotsubmittingcommentswillbeviewedasagreeingwiththe minutes. Disputesonthenoteswouldberesolvedatthenextmeeting. Copiesofall documentswillbeprovidedtodesignatedagencyparticipantsandanyoneelseindicating adesiretoreceiveaspecificdocument.
LIAISON
TheCo-Chairpersonsareresponsibleformaintainingeffectiveliaisonandopenlinesof communicationbetweentheFPOMandotherfisheriesprogramactivitiesthatmayaffectorbeaffectedbytheoperation,maintenanceandconstructionontheninecoveredCOEprojects.
[SALN1]We here in NWW are often acting on MOC approval without time to resend an MOC after FPOM discussion.
[SALN2]I would like to see this removed or reworded. I am OK with first part..Conclusions or recommendations reached at meetings are considered official positions unless redacted in writing.
[SALN3]Fish Passage Managers is an interesting category. Here in NWW the only biologists classified as mangers are in Operations. Perhaps just drop the District Fish Passage Managers language and leave District?
[SALN4]
[SALN5]Seems like Fish Policy forum would be more appropriate or maybe TMT ?.
[SALN6]We need Rock to decide the forum where he wants this handled
[SALN7]Is this necessary?