BiOp Remand
Remand of the NOAA Fisheries 2000 Biological Opinion
on the Federal Columbia River Power System

National Wildlife Federation et al v. National Marine Fisheries Service et al. challenged the National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries) 2000 Biological Opinion (BiOp) on operation of the Federal Columbia River Power System for salmon and steelhead. In June 2003, Judge James A Redden remanded, or handed back, the 2000 BiOp to NOAA Fisheries to resolve several deficiencies including: reliance on federal mitigation actions that have not undergone section 7 consultation under the Endangered Species Act; and reliance on range-wide off-site non-federal mitigation actions that are not reasonably certain to occur. In a subsequent "minute order," the Judge denied plaintiffs' motion to vacate the Biological Opinion and it will remain in place as deficiencies are addressed.

NOAA Fisheries will provide a status report to the Court every 90 days during the year.

This web page hosts a variety of documents related to NOAA Fisheries' remand efforts to resolve the deficiencies set out by Judge Redden.

Please contact Katherine Cheney, Remand Outreach Coordinator, with comments or questions. Katherine can be reached at 503-230-3473 or at kacheney@bpa.gov