45 



ment measures for any new source of pollution. To us this means 

 regulation. These regulations will be costly and burdensome for the 

 private landowners who have already a proven and successful 

 record. We can find no evidence that these new regulations will add 

 to the effectiveness or the efficiency of our successful efforts. 



We believe that the individual States should have the authority 

 and responsibility to identify critical and problematic sources of 

 pollution. The State should have the flexibility to focus on creative 

 efforts to solve those specific problems and then be held account- 

 able. The State foresters recognize the importance of our forested 

 wetlands and their contribution to the quality of water and aquatic 

 life. We believe that forestry is a land use that is most compatible 

 with the goals of wetland protection. 



We also know our private landowners; we work with them every 

 day. We firmly believe that these landowners, if they are given the 

 proper incentives and rewards, will provide the protection that is 

 needed for these wetlands. These landowners need to have the op- 

 portunity to derive economic benefit from their forestland. If these 

 wetlands are allowed to provide an economic return, these owners 

 will manage those wetlands without compromising the integrity of 

 the wetlands function or their values. 



The 1988 final report of the National Wetlands Policy Forum 

 found that appropriate silviculture operations can be carried out 

 without damaging the wetlands ecosystem. It stated, "Private land- 

 owners, including timber companies, should be encouraged to pur- 

 sue ecologically sound silvicultural practices on privately owned 

 wetlands." Section 404 of the program presently enables these rec- 

 ommendations to be met by providing exemptions for ongoing and 

 normal silvicultural activity. This exemption has served our coun- 

 try well and we hope that it can be extended. 



In summary, the National Association of State Foresters request 

 that you continue to utilize the existing categories identified by 

 Congress in 1972, and we hope that you will remove all references 

 to "new" and "existing nonpoint sources." We support the provi- 

 sions that recognize comparable State and local programs and 

 those that require EPA to consult professional organizations. We 

 encourage the expansion of incentives and assistance programs. 

 And we really encourage the language that assigns nonpoint source 

 pollution to a single agency back at the State level. We believe that 

 the administrative process will gain more landowner acceptance. 

 And finally, we support using the National Academy of Sciences as 

 the group to clearly identify a wetland. Attempting to put specific 

 wetland types into the legislation will confuse the public and the 

 practitioners. 



Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for your kindness. My written report 

 contains a more detailed response. 



[The prepared statement of Mr. Gamer appears at the conclusion 

 of the hearing.] 



Mr. Johnson. Thank you, Mr. Gamer. 



The gentleman from Kentucky, Mr. Barlow. 



Mr. Barlow. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. These are 

 important hearings for agriculture, as we all know. Speaking for 

 Kentucky, and I am sure speaking for farmers throughout the 

 country, we all are very intent on ensuring that our practices safe- 



