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Mr. DeFazio. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The unfortunate sort of 

 imperative around here is that I have not figured out how to be at 

 several places at one time. And this committee has a predilection 

 to putting issues in which I have a vital interest in several areas 

 at the same time. The Secretary of Interior was testifying on min- 

 ing reform, and I had several questions that I wanted to put to 

 him. 



I had one particular and immediate concern, which I understand 

 the Chairman raised, but I would like to pursue it a bit more with 

 Mr. Leonard, which had to do with the recent revelations that we 

 were not moving ahead on the grazing reallocation or allotment in 

 some sensitive areas of Oregon as I had understood. 



And I was distressed that it was brought to my attention in the 

 press and I had never seen the communication nor had my staff 

 from the Forest Service, despite the fact that I had worked with 

 Senator Hatfield, and others to get the allocation of funds for the 

 Forest Service. 



I understand that part of the reason is having to deal with con- 

 sultation on other pressing environmental issues with the National 

 Fishery Service, and I understand that. But I guess what I want 

 to do is make a point and then ask Mr. Leonard to respond, and 

 that is these are both imperatives; and I know you have many im- 

 peratives. But what I would hope, under the new administration, 

 is that we could hear, honestly, from the Forest Service in terms 

 of its needs. It is something that I feel the managers were not al- 

 lowed to do under the last administration. 0MB dictated that, you 

 know, you were not basically allowed to honestly voice the true 

 needs of the agency. I hope this administration is different. 



And if it is not different, I would like to know that, too. 



And if there is a need now, if the consultation is not complete 

 and you need more resources or if the consultation is complete, if 

 you would immediately reassign those resources. It is an impera- 

 tive that we continue along the track of reallocating and revising 

 those grazing allotments to stop the degradation in those critical 

 areas. 



And I would ask, Mr. Leonard, given your original time line, 

 where are you at now and how do you expect to deal with this? 



Mr. Leonard. As you have indicated, the problem that we got 

 into was the reallocation of grazing sources. We had, probably, 

 10,000 ongoing activities in the Forest Service that were affected. 

 We had to go back to the National Marine Fisheries to consult with 

 them. 



For a large share of those, 6,000 or more, at least the biological 

 evaluations and the supporting work is done, and we are in the 

 consultation process on those. Most of the biological evaluations 

 and what not have been done to support the completion of them, 

 and we are in consultation on the rest. 



It is my understanding that we are at the point where those peo- 

 ple can now move back and get on with the important job of doing 

 the assessments. I am going to be out in the Northwest next week, 

 and I will talk to the Regional Forester; and if that's not true, that 

 we are not going to be able to get on course, I will get back to you. 



Mr. DeFazio. I appreciate it. I think I can speak frankly and 

 fully with my friend Mr. Panetta and former colleague. And I think 



