20 



fragmented and, in fact, begin to develop stands which will reduce 

 that fragmentation so that the ecosystem functions properly. 



Mr. Hamburg. Speaking of the marbled murrelet in the context 

 of the FEMAT report, I would just like to go to that report and 

 bring forth for the record some of the things that are mentioned 

 there. On page Roman numeral IV- 164 of that report, it states 

 that, in a section on the role of non-Federal lands in mitigation for 

 the marbled murrelet, it states that private lands are key to main- 

 taining the existing distribution of marbled murrelets and provid- 

 ing for potential recovery of the species. 



It goes on to state that management and development of 

 murrelet habitat on private and State lands could provide for a 

 higher viability rating and an increased likelihood that the eco- 

 system plan adopted on Federal lands will maintain marbled 

 murrelets for the long term. 



I understand that the viability standeirds that are discussed in 

 the FEMAT report are not especially encouraging that we are not — 

 that there are substantial reasons to believe that the murrelet is 

 severely threatened in California. 



Mr. Leonard. Certainly the population from the evidence that 

 we have available to us, the population in California has been de- 

 clining, 



Mr. Hamburg. And you concur that it is necessary for the pri- 

 vate lands to make a contribution in order that we increase the vi- 

 ability or the likelihood that this species is going to survive. 



Mr. Leonard. That is certainly my understanding of the biology 

 of the bird. 



Mr. Hamburg. I would Uke to ask you a question Mr. Detrich. 

 Do you want to introduce yourself? 



Mr. Detrich. Yes. I am Phil Detrich, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 

 Service, Sacramento Field Office. I supervise a group of biologists 

 that administers the Endangered Species Act regarding forestry ac- 

 tivities for both Federal and non-Federal lands in northern Califor- 

 nia. 



Mr. Hamburg. Thank you. Mr. Detrich, I would like to ask you, 

 you have worked quite a bit with P.L. over the last several years. 



Mr. Detrich. Yes, that is correct, since the listing of the north- 

 em spotted owl in 1990. 



Mr. Hamburg. And with respect to the owl, you have had some 

 successes working with the company. 



Mr. Detrich. Yes, we have. Our relationship regarding the spot- 

 ted owl has been fairly cooperative. 



Mr. Hamburg. Could you tell me in your work with P.L. to date 

 on the marbled murrelet, has that convinced you that the company 

 is aware of the problem of maintaining the viability of the species? 

 Have there been any reasons to make you doubt that that relation- 

 ship will be a successful one? 



Mr. Detrich. I believe that they are aware of problems with the 

 viability of the species. 



Mr. KLamburg. Are you convinced that additional harvest such as 

 what we recently saw in November of 1992, are you convinced that 

 harvest of that kind will not continue? 



Mr. Detrich. Well, to finish your earlier question, we have been 

 involved with respect to the murrelet with Pacific Lumber for quite 



