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4. Secretary Espy. 9 December 1993 



NEPA and ESA Requirements. The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) 

 requires that the Department of Agriculture consider the impacts associated with the 

 importation of logs from foreign countries. The Department of Agriculture must also consult 

 with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service about the possible effects of imported logs and 

 associated pests on native plant and animal species. 



We want to encourage the development of mutually beneficial ti-ade relations between 

 Russia and the United States and to encourage Russia to develop its resources in an 

 ecologically sound fashion. This can be done to the sadsfacdon of all concerned, but not if 

 devastating pests and infestations are introduced into U.S. forests or if special interests 

 concerned only with low-cost extracdon of Russian resources are given free reign. We 

 hope that the failures of the American timber industry and American forest 

 managers will not be repeated in Russia; and we certainly hope that the U.S., 

 through our log-import permitting laws, does not encourage the logging of 

 Siberia. 



Sincerely; 



Xf Jo/Belsky. Ph^ 



Staff Ecologist 



Oregon Natural Resources Council 



522 SW 5th Ave, Suite 1050 



Portland, Oregon 97104 



David Gordon 



Director, Siberian Forest Protection Project 



Pacific Environment and Resources Center 



1055 Fort Cronkhite 



Sausalito, CA 94965 



