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Edwards Aquifer Recovery Implementation Program HABITAT CONSERVATION PLAN 1.7.1 Advisory Groups 1.7.1.1 EARIP Steering Committee As stated previously, the EARIP is a collaborative, consensus-based stakeholder process. Thirty-nine individuals, entities and groups executed a Memorandum of Agreement with USFWS regarding participation in the EARIP. (See Appendix A). EARIP meetings were held on at least a monthly basis with between fifty and eighty people attending each meeting. SB 3, the legislation that amended created the EARIP called for the creation of a Steering Committee to oversee and assist in the development of the EARIP. The EAA Act specifies that the following entities be represented on the initial Steering Committee: Edwards Aquifer Authority Texas Commission on Environmental Quality Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Texas Department of Agriculture Texas Water Development Board San Antonio Water System Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority San Antonio River Authority South Central Texas Water Advisory Committee Bexar County CPS Energy Bexar Metropolitan Water District Nine other people representing retail, industrial, municipal, public utility, and agricultural permit holders by region, as well as environmental and recreational interests. Subsequently, the initial Steering Committee added five additional entities to the Steering Committee to ensure representation of all interests. The Steering Committee hired a program director, established a regular meeting schedule, and published that schedule to encourage public participation. Meetings of the Steering Committee were open to the public and all attendees were encouraged to actively participate. All decisions by the Steering Committee were made by consensus. The Steering Committee in its operating rules defined consensus as the absence of opposition to a decision. Although a mechanism 1-19