245 



interactions of an ecosystem. Information from the ICBEMP 

 assessment may be used to amend forest plans and regional guides 

 zc address concerns about forest and rangeland health and to 

 comply with environmental law requirements such as ESA 

 requirements for protecting listed salmon. The information from 

 SNEP and SAA also can be used for forest and site-specific 

 project planning. 



Unlike ICBEMP and SAA, the Sierra Nevada Ecosystem Project 

 assessment was requested by Congress. The Conference Report of 

 the Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations Ace for Fiscal 

 Year 1993 (P.L. 102-381) called for the "...scientific review of 

 the remaining old-growth in the national forests of the Sierra 

 Nevada in California, and for a study of the entire Sierra Nevada 

 ecosystem by an independent panel of scientists, with expertise 

 m diverse areas related to this issue." The panel of scientists 

 has held public meetings and solicited information from the 

 public and government agencies. This information is being used 

 m their assessment. In addition, the assessment has undergone 

 scientific peer review. 



The ICBEMP and SAA have extensively involved the public, federal 

 government agencies, universities. Tribes, and local oind state 

 governments throughout the assessment process. The ICBEMP 

 assessment also has undergone scientific peer review. 



The time and m.oney to complete these three assessments have 



