This project is to respond to comments on the SAFE Project's (Project) Final Completion Report dated June 21, 2004.  The NPCC's ISRP and IEAB offered the comments in a report called SAFE Project Review dated March 16, 2005.  The BPA is contracting with a private consulting firm to provide the response on behalf of the SAFE Project sponsors:  WDFW, ODFW, and Clatsop County.

The comments mostly addressed the adequacy and extent of the information showing economic value of the Project.  There were also comments on the biological methods used to assess whether the Project was meeting its production goals.  In order to respond to the comments, it will be necessary to acquire additional information about Project costs for smolt production at contributing hatcheries, as well as costs for the acclimation and release; develop more detailed economic models; refine Project goal and objective statements in order to utilize the economic model to test impacts of alternative; restate and better explain information about biological impacts; and, recommend future salmon marketing involvement, cost sharing feasibility arrangements, organizational approaches, and monitoring and evaluation programs.

The response to comments will be made in a series of interim reports to be delivered by the contractor.  The many entities involved in the Project will have a chance to review the interim reports before they are compiled into a single draft report.  A final report is scheduled to be completed by December 31, 2005.