I
106TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 3089
To provide for a comprehensive scientific review of the current conservation
status of the northern spotted owl as a result of implementation of
the President’s Northwest Forest Plan, which is a national strategy
for the recovery of the species on public forest lands.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
OCTOBER 18, 1999
Mrs. CHENOWETH-HAGE (for herself, Mr. WALDEN of Oregon, Mr. METCALF,
Mr. DOOLITTLE, Mr. HERGER, Mr. RADANOVICH, Mr. POMBO, and Mr.
HASTINGS of Washington) introduced the following bill; which was re-
ferred to the Committee on Resources, and in addition to the Committee
on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speak-
er, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the ju-
risdiction of the committee concerned
A BILL
To provide for a comprehensive scientific review of the cur-
rent conservation status of the northern spotted owl as
a result of implementation of the President’s Northwest
Forest Plan, which is a national strategy for the recovery
of the species on public forest lands.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. REVIEW AND REPORT ON CONSERVATION STA-
TUS OF NORTHERN SPOTTED OWL.
(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section:
(1) PRESIDENT’S NORTHWEST FOREST PLAN.—
The term ‘‘President’s Northwest Forest Plan’’ re-
fers to the Record of Decision for Amendments to
Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management
Planning Documents Within the Range of the
Northern Spotted Owl, dated April 13, 1994, and
the accompanying Final Supplemental Environ-
mental Impact Statement.
(2) FEDERAL LAND MANAGEMENT AGENCIES.—
The term ‘‘Federal land management agencies’’ re-
fers to the Bureau of Land Management and the
Forest Service.
(3) 
CONSERVATION
STRATEGY
FOR
THE
NORTHERN SPOTTED OWL.—The term ‘‘conservation
strategy for the northern spotted owl’’ refers to the
strategy adopted in the President’s Northwest For-
est Plan.
(b) REVIEW REQUIRED.—
(1) CONTRACT FOR REVIEW.—The Secretary of
the Interior, in consultation with the Secretary of
Agriculture, shall enter into a contract with the Na-
tional Research Council of the National Academy of
Sciences to conduct a comprehensive review of the
available scientific and commercial data regarding
the northern spotted owl (Strix occidentalis caurina)
and the current conservation status of the species.
(2) TIME FOR CONTRACT.—The contract shall
be entered into within 90 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act.
(3) DELEGATION.—The heads of the Federal
land management agencies shall carry out this sec-
tion.
(c) SPECIFIC MATTERS TO BE ASSESSED.—In the
review conducted pursuant to subsection (a), the National
Research Council shall answer the following questions:
(1) What is currently known about the geo-
graphic distribution, population size, and population
trend of the northern spotted owl?
(2) What vegetation features and environmental
factors result in suitable habitat for the northern
spotted owl?
(3) Can the demographic rates and population
trends of the northern spotted owl be linked statis-
tically to habitat and environmental conditions?
(4) What is the status of the adaptive manage-
ment and monitoring programs contained in the
President’s Northwest Forest Plan that were in-
tended to evaluate the conservation strategy for the
northern spotted owl and to develop silvicultural pro-
grams compatible with the recovery of the species?
(5) What programs are in place to inform Fed-
eral land management agencies of new scientific and
commercial data regarding the northern spotted owl
and to apply this data to recovery efforts for the
species?
(6) Is the current conservation strategy for the
northern spotted owl likely to lead to recovery of the
species in the foreseeable future?
(7) Do any of the public forest and other land
areas that were identified as critical habitat in the
initial listing of the northern spotted owl contain
adequate numbers of breeding pairs to maintain the
population?
(8) With the President’s Northwest Forest Plan
being used as the recovery plan for the northern
spotted owl, should milestones be developed and
adopted as benchmarks to be used in delisting deci-
sions?
(d) REPORTS.—
(1) FINAL
REPORT.—The National Research
Council shall submit to the Secretary of the Interior,
the Secretary of Agriculture, and Congress a final
report containing the results of the review conducted
pursuant to subsection (a), including answers to the
questions specified in subsection (c), within 18
months after the date the contract was entered into
under subsection (a).
(2) INTERIM REPORTS.—The National Research
Council shall also provide the following interim re-
ports and progress updates to the Secretary of the
Interior, the Secretary of Agriculture, and Congress:
(A) Not later than 30 days after the con-
tract is entered into, the National Research
Council shall submit an outline of the review
plan, including information regarding the per-
sons who will be involved in the review, the
schedule for the review, and other necessary in-
formation concerning the review.
(B) Not later than 9 months after the con-
tract is entered into, the National Research
Council shall submit a midpoint status report
on its findings to date.
(e) INTERAGENCY COOPERATION.—All departments
and agencies of the Federal Government that have a man-
date under law associated with the listing or recovery of
the northern spotted owl or the management of public for-
est or other lands containing suitable habitat for the
northern spotted owl shall cooperate fully with the Na-