Executive Order 11917—Amending Executive Order No. 11643 of February 8, 1972, Relating to Environmental Safeguards on Activities for Animal Damage Control on Federal Lands

By virtue of the authority vested in me as President of the United States, and in furtherance of the purposes and policies of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et. seq.), the provisions of Section 1 of the Act of March 2, 1931 (46 Stat. 1468, 7 U.S.C. 426) and the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (87 Stat. 884, 16 U.S.C. 1531 et. seq.), and in view of the findings (40 F.R. 44726-14739, September 29, 1975) of the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency that the use of sodium cyanide is permissible under conditions prescribed by the Agency, Executive Order No. 11643 of February 8, 1972, as amended by Executive Order No. 11870 of July 18, 1975, is further amended by adding the following sub-section to Section 3:

"(d) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this Section, the head of an agency may authorize the operational use of sodium cyanide in Federal programs or on Federal lands, but only in accordance with regulations and on the terms and subject to all the restrictions which may now or hereafter be presented by the Environmental Protection Agency; provided that; such use of sodium cyanide is prohibited in (1) areas where endangered or threatened animal species might be adversely affected; (2) areas of the National Park System; (3) areas of the National Wildlife Refuge System; (4) areas of the National Wilderness Preservation System; (5) areas within national forests or other Federal lands specifically set aside for recreational use; (6) prairie dog towns; (7) National Monument areas; and (8) any areas where exposure to the public and family pets is probable.".

GERALD R. FORD

The White House,

May 28, 1976.