Mr. John Entsminger (left) signs Safe Harbor Agreement
Melissa Trammell
Regulatory Assurances
Before the critically endangered Pahrump poolfish could be translocated to an active groundwater well field in the heart of Las Vegas, the Las Vegas Valley Water District required regulatory assurances that normal operations would continue. Consequently, it took three years to ratify a-15 year Pahrump Poolfish Safe Harbor Agreement and associated Enhancement of Survival Permit with the US Fish and Wildlife Service.
Communication was the key enabling factor that served to alleviate fears from the several internal and external stakeholders. Once the project was approved by the internal executive team, the regulatory portion of the project revolved around drafting a comprehensive legal document that listed in detail the covered activities, beneficial management activities, avoidance and mitigation measures, and responsibilities of both parties.
Although it took just three months to draft the Pahrump poolfish Safe Harbor Agreement, it took an additional three years for internal and external review by biologists, management, legal teams, and to receive unanimous approval from the Las Vegas Valley water District Board before the document was ratifed by both parties.