208 



Mr. Blackwood. At this broad scale we feel we have a pretty 

 good picture of where we have some challenges within our range- 

 lands. Grazing, of course, is one of the many uses that we have. 



When we talk about some of the broad scale issues that we are 

 dealing with, we are certainly not talking about the allocation of 

 grazing on these public lands, we are talking more about the im- 

 pacts of the spread of exotic weeds, encroachment of juniper, effects 

 of habitat, and grazing resources, and those are the kinds of things 

 we have examined from a grazing standpoint. 



Mrs. Chenoweth. Don't the control of noxious weeds primarily 

 fall under State law? We have a very, very aggressive State nox- 

 ious weed law. 



Mr. Blackwood. That is correct. But since a lot of the noxious 

 weeds occur on Federal lands, we have some responsibilities there, 

 too. 



Mrs. Chenoweth. To cooperate with the State? 



Mr. Blackwood. To cooperate. 



Mrs. Chenoweth. That would be in addition to an ecosystem 

 management plan, that cooperation has been going on? 



Mr. Blackwood. That is correct. What we have found through 

 the assessment process is really where these problems have the 

 most potential and where the concerns are greatest and also where 

 our restoration efforts maybe most effective. 



Mrs. Chenoweth. Thank you, Mr. Blackwood. I do have other 

 questions for you but I will wait for my second round. 



Mr. Hansen. Thank you. We will protect your right for addi- 

 tional questions. 



The gentleman from Michigan, Mr. Dale Kildee. 



Mr. Kildee. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 



I notice that you indicate in fiscal year 1997 the Forest Service 

 will be completing the Great Lakes assessment. Briefly, could you 

 tell what that will entail, that assessment? 



Mr. Unger. It will be an assessment generally of the type of 

 Southern Appalachian Assessment which will be a look at the 

 broad issues of forest management, the interactions between dif- 

 ferent resources such as timber harvesting and fish and wildlife 

 recreation, watershed values, soil quality, the whole range of issues 

 that we are required to take into account as we develop and revise 

 our forest plans, and it would serve as a basis for the decisions that 

 are made to go forth with individual projects. 



Mr. Kildee. Did you study the questions of the effect of things 

 like acid rain on the forest in the Great Lakes area? Is that part 

 of your assessment? 



Mr. Unger. I am not sure whether acid rain effects are included 

 in that particular assessment. I would have to get that information. 



Mr. Kildee. If you could, I would appreciate that. 



Mr. Kildee. The Upper Peninsula, particularly in Michigan, has 

 large areas of U.S. Forest land and also large areas of State Forest 

 land. Do you coordinate any of these assessments with the State 

 of Michigan? 



Mr. Unger. Absolutely. We work with a variety of partners in all 

 of these assessments, and they are contributing in many ways — 

 State government agencies, other Federal agencies, and other orga- 

 nizations that are interested in providing information. 



