The 1996 amendment to the Northwest Power Act directed the Northwest Power and Conservation Council (Council) to appoint an 11-member panel of independent scientists and additional peer review groups. These scientists provide advice and information regarding scientific aspects of projects that the Council may recommend for funding by the Bonneville Power Administration (Bonneville). The Independent Scientific Review Panel (ISRP) and peer review groups have responsibilities in three areas:

• Review projects proposed for Bonneville funding to implement the Council’s Columbia River Fish and Wildlife Program (Program)
The Northwest Power Act directs the ISRP to review projects that are proposed for Bonneville funding to implement the Council’s Program. The Act specifies the review standards that the ISRP is to use and the kinds of recommendations to make to the Council. The Council must fully consider the ISRP’s report prior to making its funding recommendations to Bonneville and must explain in writing if the Council’s recommendations differ from the ISRP’s.

• Review program results
The 1996 amendment also directs the ISRP, with assistance from the Scientific Peer Review Groups, to review annually the results of prior-year expenditures based upon the project review criteria and submit its findings to the Council. The retrospective review should focus on the measurable benefits to fish and wildlife made through projects funded by Bonneville. The ISRP’s findings should provide biological information for the Council’s ongoing accounting and evaluation of Bonneville’s expenditures and the level of success in meeting the objectives of the Fish and Wildlife Program. In addition, as part of the ISRP’s annual retrospective report, the ISRP should summarize major basinwide programmatic issues identified during project reviews.

• Review projects funded through Bonneville’s reimbursable program
In 1998, the U.S. Congress’ Senate-House conference report on the FY 1999 Energy and Water Development Appropriations bill directed the ISRP to review the fish and wildlife projects, programs, or measures included in federal agency budgets that are reimbursed by Bonneville, using the same standards and making recommendations as in its review of the projects proposed to implement the Council’s program.

The four major components of the reimbursable program are:
1) Columbia River Fisheries Mitigation Program (Corps of Engineers),
2) Fish and Wildlife Operations and Maintenance Budget (Corps of Engineers),
3) Lower Snake River Compensation Plan (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service), and
4) Leavenworth Hatchery (Bureau of Reclamation).