■ces Program was established within the U.S. Fish 

 v.,; ^. ;,upp1y scientific information and methodologies on 

 i issues that impact fish and wildlife resources and their 

 >■■■"' The mission of the program is as follows: 



J .i.tt;!!.;..tien the Fish and Mlldlife Service In Its role as 

 a primary source of information on national fish and wild- 

 life resources, particularly in respect to environmental 

 Impact assessment. 



To gather, analyze, and present information that will aid 

 ' iiakers in the identification and resolution of 



use. 



'Inkers III kiic ludibii luauiuii aiiu rcsuiuuiuri ui 



associated with major changes in land and water 



• To provide better ecological information and evaluation 

 tor Department of the Interior development programs, such 

 as those relating to energy development. 



Information developed by the Biological Services Program is Intended 

 for use in the planning and decisionmaking process to prevent or minimize 

 the impact of development on fish and wildlife. Research activities and 

 technical assistance services are based on an analysis of the issues a 

 determination of the decisionmakers involved and their Information needs, 

 and an evaluation of the state of the art to identify Information gaps 

 and to determine priorities. This Is a strategy that will ensure that 

 the products produced and disseminated are timely and useful. 



Pi-ojects have been initiated in the following areas: coal extraction 

 and conversion; power plants; geothermal , mineral and oil shale develop- 

 ment; water resource analysis, including stream alterations and western 

 water allocation; coastal ecosystems and Outer Continental Shelf develop- 

 ment: .i'-:J '/ctsns Inventory, including National Wetland Inventory, 

 hab cation and analysis, and information transfer. 



The Biological Services Program consists of the Office of Biological 

 Services ir> >-. < s-. "-.nfon, O.C. , which is responsible for overall planning and 



ni«ndg~-orit,, Teams, which provide the Program's central scientific 



an.i "-^ ■ ise and arrange for contracting biological services 



stiu un1ve»'s1ties, consulting firms, and others; Regional 



Sta;-, ■-"■ " " -'■1ems at the operating level; and staff at 



certain - research facilities, who conduct inhouse 

 researcn jw:..i;r:,> 



