39 



these important issues. Your focus on the condition of the rural 

 communities I think is very important. Many of us across the coun- 

 try are concerned about this. 



I represent a facet of it that I would be interested in hearing 

 your views concerning the rural timber communities in northern 

 California. My district is northeastern California along the Nevada 

 border. We have a great deal of timber and we are heavily impact- 

 ed now by issues concerning the California spotted owl. 



I was pleased to hear your reference defending your jurisdiction. 

 I would hate to see the Agriculture Department lose jurisdiction 

 over the forest. I think it is important to be maintained and I think 

 it is important that this committee maintain a role in that area. 



I am very concerned about the tremendous acreage set-aside that 

 is now being recommended by the Forest Service concerning trees 

 where the California spotted owl is felt to be nesting. I believe it is 

 300 to 400 acres per tree. We talk about the problems of the rural 

 economy, and this will be economically devastating. 



As you know, in northern California and throughout the Pacific 

 Northwest we have suffered about a one-third reduction from his- 

 toric average yields in the 1980's down to the point where what 

 we're cutting today is about one-third of what used to be cut. 

 People and whole families are thrown out of work. They are 

 moving out of the area. These areas are devastated. 



This is one of the last great manufacturing industries in the Pa- 

 cific Northwest. We can have healthy forests. My question to you 

 is, What plans do you have to help us in this area so that we don't 

 basically devastate completely the economy? 



Secretary Espy. I appreciate the question. 



You are from a very important State, some think the most im- 

 portant State when it comes to the breadth and range of agricul- 

 tural production. I am out to California a great deal. I graduated 

 from law school there and I get out there often meeting with vari- 

 ous producers and growers. 



As you know, I was in the State of Washington yesterday. And 

 although my subject wasn't the spotted owl and timber sales, let 

 me tell you that certain groups approached me wanting me to 

 make a statement on those subjects. 



It is a very controversial subject. I hope this is one of the areas, 

 frankly, where I can be considered as an honest broker between 

 unemployment concerns, job growth and protection concerns, agri- 

 cultural production concerns, and concerns of environmental qual- 

 ity. 



President Clinton, as candidate Clinton, talked about a timber 

 summit somewhere in the great Pacific Northwest that would be 

 held soon after he had been sworn in. I would like to discuss this 

 with him very soon because we don't really have a lot of time to 

 waste. I would like to talk to him about it, get a good date, and 

 convene such a summit very, very quickly. We're going to be 

 moving on that front. 



I am concerned about it. It is a controversial issue and we will be 

 moving to resolve it. 



Mr. Doolittle. Thank you. I look forward to working with you 

 on it. 



The Chairman. Mr. Volkmer. 



