Comment from George Ice

The National Council for Air and Stream Improvement, Inc. (NCASI) is an environmental research and technical information organization supported by the forest products industry (http://www.ncasi.org). NCASI research is designed to allow member companies to meet their environmental objectives. Members include both forest products manufacturing facilities and industrial forestland owners. Our purpose here is to comment on the “Endangered and Threatened Species, Designation of Critical Habitat for Southern Distinct Population Segment of Eulachon” (Thaleichthys pacificus) reported in the January 5, 2011, Federal Register [76(3):Doc. 101027536-0540-02]. Our comments address the assertion that forest management for wood production and wood products manufacturing may pose a threat to recovering populations of eulachon. Specifically, the comments and supporting documentation supplied herein provide ample evidence to show that contemporary management activities have little impact on aquatic organisms, especially on species that spend very little time in freshwater conditions. See attached file.