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5 



the National Forest Management Act; 2) resource inventories, 

 including threatened and endangered species inventories; and 

 3) consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 

 concerning threatened and endangered species. Accomplishing 

 these tasks would take a minimum of three years. Because of 

 the high administrative costs associated with this planning 

 process, we would recommend that the development of management 

 plans not proceed until the lands are acquired. 



Mr. Chairman, the forest lands in question possess excellent 

 natural resource attributes and the Headwaters Forest has 

 important wilderness attributes, the Department of Agriculture 

 supports the goals and objectives of H.R. 2866 and is 

 interested in working with the Congress to meet the objectives 

 of the bill. 



This concludes my prepared statement. We would be pleased to 

 answer the Subcommittee's questions. 



