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conducting project-by-project consultations. USFS will 

 prioritize its actions, and provide critical due dates. Also, 

 NMFS and USFS have prepared a biological evaluation outline to 

 help ensure that the information needed to complete consultations 

 is submitted. We are currently working with BLM to adopt a 

 similar approach. Once we have completed the necessary 

 consultations with the USFS and BLM, we will have a better idea 

 of the effect of the agencies' activities on listed species and, 

 to a degree, other anadromous species as well. 



In closing, we are focusing on the conservation of all anadromous 

 stocks, not only on listed ones. Efforts to bring about the 

 recovery of listed species and restore habitat can be very 

 expensive. It is far more cost effective to prevent species from 

 becoming endangered and to prevent habitat from being degraded. 

 Existing authorities should be used in a more innovative manner 

 to reconcile and integrate human needs with the conservation of 

 natural resources and ecosystems. We need to develop better 

 information on species and ecosystem processes to ensure that 

 decisions are made with the full knowledge of the potential 

 risks. Our goal, which I am sure is shared by most, is to 

 maintain salmon and steelhead stocks as a vital resource unique 

 to the Northwest that can be utilized and enjoyed by all. 



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