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species and adjusted as feasible to minimize risks. Although this recommendation is a departure from the general principle that the recommenda- tions be limited to "new" introductions, the Task Force believes that this recommendation is con- sistent with good management practices. Under normal circumstances, activities such as stocking programs should be reviewed periodically to determine if they are meeting initial goals, are an effective use of public resources, and are not negatively impacting ecosystems. Recommendation 3B Appropriate Federal agencies should more closely examine proposed new introductions to determine whether they constitute major actions with significant effects on the human environment and, if so, more fully and consis- tently employ the NEPA process in their con- siderations of proposed introductions. These same agencies should ensure that their NEPA guidance procedures refiect this concern. NEPA requires that all Federal agencies prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) for major Federal actions "significantly affecting the quality of the human environment." An environ- mental assessment (EA) may be prepared to help determine if the proposed action will have signifi- cant effects. The preparation of either type of document must include public involvement. NEPA also stipulates that agencies employ an interdisciplinary approach in related decision making and ensure that unquantified environ- mental values are given appropriate considera- tion, along with economic and technical considerations. As noted in the Options Paper (Appendix A), the primary issue with NEPA was whether or not species introductions constitute major actions with significant effects. No official policy was found that directly addresses this question (categorically includes or excludes all nonindigenous species introductions) and the development of EAs that seek to answer the question have been inconsistent. However, the interpretation that introductions of nonindige- nous species may constitute major actions is increasingly becoming the pattern. The State of New Jersey recently requested funds under the Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Act for the introduction of Pacific salmonids into the Delaware River basin. In accordance with NEPA, this request resulted in the development of an EIS and was the subject of a series of public hearings. The Task Force agrees with this inter- pretation and concludes that many more intro- ductions of nonindigenous species than are currently judged to be so, may in fact constitute major actions and should therefore be subject to the NEPA process. Among the comments received on the Proposed Report were comments that NEPA alone should be sufficient to address the issue of intentional introductions. NEPA, however, addresses only Federal actions and does not address introduc- tion by other governmental entities or by private individuals. The mandate of the Task Force was broader in scope than merely making recommen- dations on Federal actions related to intentional introductions. Recommendation 3C Appropriate Federal agencies should formalize their compliance procedures to fully implement Executive Order 11987 and within one year of publication of this Report to Congress, submit to the ANS Task Force a report of what steps have been taken to achieve compliance Executive Order 11987 (see Appendix E) on "exotic species" was issued in May of 1977 but has not been formally implemented. EO 11987 defines exotic species as "all species of plants or animals not naturally occurring, either presently or historically, in any ecosystem of the United States"-i.e., a species that does not or histori- cally has not occurred naturally in an ecosystem is an "exotic species" with regard to that ecosys- tem. This is essentially the same as the definition of nonindigenous species provided by the Nonindigenous Aquatic Nuisance Prevention and Control Act. In both cases, the defining baselines are ecosystems within the natural range of the species. The Task Force has reserved the term "exotic" for species foreign to the United States as a whole rather than with respect to any ecosystem within the United States. One of the difficulties in dealing with historic ter- minology is that over time meanings may change and go in and out of use. In examining EO 11987, the Task Force determined that the pur- pose of the Order was to protect receiving ecosystems by requiring adequate review of pro- posed introductions. Therefore, the Task Force believes that the definition of exotic species should be interpreted broadly and should apply 16