[Comments on Whether Interior and Related Agencies Act Authorizes Formerly Prohibited Activities]

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO commented on whether: (1) Title VI of the Department of the Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 1998 authorizes activities that would have been deemed illegal substitution under the 1990 Forest Resources Conservation and Shortage Relief Act and its implementing regulations; and (2) these changes apply to states other than Washington. GAO found that Title VI of the Appropriations Act contains several changes authorizing activities formerly prohibited. These changes apply to states other than Washington, and the new act contains provisions generally applicable throughout the western states, applicable to states other than Washington and Idaho, applicable only to Washington, and applicable only to Idaho.