Comment submitted by Bruce A. Stein, Vice President and Chief Scientist, NatureServe

NatureServe worked with EPA to develop a biological diversity indicator included in the Report on the Environment. High level findings of this indicator of Fish Faunal Intactness, is summarized on page 30 of the Highlights report. Comments submitted on the Science Report by NatureServe flagged an issue with the way in which this indicator was being represented in that report, particularly relative to an inaccurate interpretation of current versus historical, and specifically, the significance of the date 1970. As a result, the phrase in the Highlights report that introduces this indicator "Over the past four decades" is not supported by the underlying data. Rather, we would suggest that this sentance be rephrased as follows: "Watersheds covering about 24 percent of the land in the lower 48 states have lost one tenth of their historical complement of freshwater fish species." For additional background on the need for this correction, please see NatureServe comments submitted on the Science report, which are attached here.