1.1 State and Federal agencies as well as industry have requested guidance for collecting, reporting, and interpreting fish and wildlife incident data. This guide covers planning and completing a thorough investigation to determine an incident's cause. Recommendations for documenting and reporting incidents are provided. A summary of the information necessary for completing a risk assessment and information on how fish and wildlife incident data are considered for regulatory decisions are also provided.

1.2 Several agencies collect information and maintain databases regarding fish and wildlife incidents. A list of these databases and the types of information they contain are included. Agencies with regulatory authority relating to fish and wildlife incidents are listed and laws pertaining to fish and wildlife incidents are summarized.

1.3 For the purposes of this guide, a fish or wildlife incident is defined as an allegation of an adverse effect on nontarget fish and wildlife species. By today's detecting standards, adverse effects data are usually limited to mortalities. However, as biological monitoring improves, sublethal effects data may be more readily quantifiable and reported.

1.4 This guide is arranged as follows:

1.5 The values stated in both inch-pound and SI units are to be regarded separately as the standard. The values given in parentheses are for information only.

1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. Specific precautionary statements are given in Section 5.