[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 178 (Thursday, December 20, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2389]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   UNITED STATES FOREST SERVICE AND FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE REPORTS

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                     HON. GEORGE R. NETHERCUTT, JR.

                             of washington

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, December 20, 2001

  Mr. NETHERCUTT. Mr. Speaker, the recent published reports about the 
planting of false evidence by biologists with the United States Forest 
Service and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service are alarming.
  An internal Forest Service investigation has found that the science 
of the habitat study had been skewed by seven government officials: 
three U.S. Forest Service employees, two U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 
officials and two employees of the Washington Department of Fish and 
Wildlife.
  These officials, according to published reports, planted three 
separate samples of Canadian lynx hair on rubbing posts used to 
identify existence of the creatures in the two national forests. Had 
the deception not been discovered, the government likely would have 
banned many forms of recreation and use of natural resources in the 
Gifford Pinchot National Forest and Wenatchee National Forest in 
Washington State. The restrictions would have had a real-life 
devastating impact on the economy of Washington State.
  Today I join with many of my colleagues in demanding that these 
employees, upon evidence of their guilt is established, be immediately 
terminated. It is unacceptable that these employees have simply been 
counseled for their planting of evidence. Federal employees should be 
held accountable for their actions--period.
  Further, I support a complete review of the lynx study as well as a 
review of any other projects on which these employees may have worked. 
The integrity of these agencies and our future efforts to protect 
threatened and endangered species depends on these reviews. As a member 
of the Interior Appropriations Subcommittee, I intend to make sure that 
this kind of activity never happens again and that the agencies 
involved are not perpetrating a fraud on the American people. That is 
my highest responsibility.

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