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<br />11/04/1993 S4:48 <br /> <br />719873512& <br /> <br />U S FOREST INDLSTRIE <br /> <br />PAGE 02 <br /> <br />" <br /> <br />000295 <br /> <br />THE ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT PROCESS <br />(Presented to the Endangered Species Conference) <br />November 5, 1999 <br />Joseph A. Duda, President, Colorado Timber Industry Association <br /> <br />With the reintroduction of Canada Lynx into Colorado, the issue of <br />Endangered Species and the function of the Endangered Species Act has <br />received considerable attention. <br />As many of you are aware, the Colorado Timber Industry Association was <br />not opposed to reintroduction of Canada Lynx. Our concerns were with the <br />issues of land use which may ultimately be affected by the reintroduction. We <br />believed reintroduction could proceed, the Colorado Division of Wildlife had the <br />capability to develop the science necessary to draw conclusions regarding the <br />viability of reintroduction, and ongoing current uses should remain unaffected. <br />Unfortunately, our concerns for ongoing uses continuing was valid. Whiie <br />the Colorado Division of Wildlife continues to build their scientific base, the <br />USDA Forest Service has begun to analyze the impact of activities on iynx <br />habitat. If the Ivnx is listed under the Endangered SpeCies Act early next year, <br />this analysis of impacts on habitat will be mandated by law. What is disturbing <br />about this process is the fact the Colorado Division of Wildlife will not have had <br />:J./"'1pie opportunity to draw conclusions regarding the viability of lynx in <br />Colorado or the suitability of habitat. There will not have been enough time to <br />even draw valid conclusions on what actually constitutes lynx habitat in <br />Colorado. In lieu of this, lynx is proposed and being considered for listing and <br />the process continues. <br />I have received and reviewed the comments the States with potential lynx <br />habitat have presented to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife. Only two states. <br />Washington and Vermont, supported listing. <br /> <br />Page I <br />