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other domestic purposes. The way the national forest is used has changed with new 

 technology but the need to use Nation forest land has not diminished. The commu- 

 nities, counties, and economies surrounding not only the Black Hills National 

 Forest but all public lands, depend on their survival for the access to these lands for 

 conservation, recreation, and a way of life. 



Forest management was not established for lobs or the environment, but to im- 

 prove and protect the forest within the boundaries. Science and technology com- 

 bined has shown that use of public land is compatible with maintaining healthy eco- 

 systems. The Secretary of Agriculture is directed to develop and administer the re- 

 newable surface resources of the National Forests, per Act of June 12, 1960 (74 Stat. 

 215; 16 U.S.C. 528-531) under section #2. 



In our ever changing world, there is a need to ensure environmental quality, but 

 there is also a need to ensure an opportunity to maintain a quality of life, and cus- 

 toms and cultures of all people. 



In the Hill City School District, 90 percent of the property is in federal ownership. 

 Seventy percent of the tax base is taken off 10 percent of the land in the district. As 

 a support to the communities within counties that contain National Forest Land the 

 USFS returns 25 percent of the gross receipts to the county. These receipts are a 

 substantial contribution to the economy and replace the monies lost in taxes due to 

 federal ownership. The receipt of over $490,000 supports the Hill City school, which 

 is primarily a rural community whose citizens earn their living mainly through har- 

 vest or extraction businesses. Without financial contribution the county landowners 

 will be asked for an additional percent increase in taxes due to federal neighbors 

 unfairly deciding not to carry their weight. This is unfair taxation for these resi- 

 dents. 



Hill City is not the only community with this problem. County, Crook County, and 

 Weston County all have communities similar to Hill City. 



With the loss of 90 people on one shift at the Continental Lumber Company as 

 well as the loss of Little River Lumber Company, we are seeing many of our citizens 

 leave or spend their work week in Nebraska, Montana or Wyoming. Families should 

 not have to exist that way to maintain a moderate standard of living, because 

 people are prejudice against those who make a living by providing products to the 

 State and national economy. Our families want to continue to live in their home 

 community. These are good hard working citizens who contribute to the society 

 through volunteer organizations such as the fire departments and service organiza- 

 tions. In Hill City, our fire chief is one of these quality citizens who must work in 

 another State in order to support his family. 



Environmentalists cry "diversify the economy, do not be dependent on one indus- 

 try". We as well as every other community are certainly trying to find industries to 

 diversify and strengthen local economies, even if the timber program remains con- 

 stant. Tourism is also mentioned by these anti groups to end the harvest extraction 

 blues. Tourism helps to diversify an economy but does not provide the stability a 

 successful community needs to maintain growth. Jobs such as mining, ranching, and 

 timbering all provide benefits such as retirement, health insurance, and steady good 

 paying jobs. This money remains in the community and is turned over again and 

 again, through supermarkets, gas stations, car dealers, pharmacies, doctors, medical 

 clinics gift shops, restaurants and the list continues on. 



Our citizens love to have people visit our community to share in the culture and 

 beauty of the area, but we also love our residents. We as well as the Forest Service 

 must continue to explain to our visitors what it is we do and why. Once a wildfire 

 devastates an area, NO TOURISTS will be coming to enjoy this area for at least 30 

 years. So why not use well managed logging and thinning under Forest Service su- 

 pervision. 



Keeping people and place as one entity insures the genuineness of what tourists 

 really come to experience. This goal can be easier said than done when the tourists 

 who decide to visit, want the scenery to remain as is. But they want to have more 

 room made for their value system and points of view, than those folks who have 

 created the very spirit that they came here for. 



It is easier said when urban populations want the ornamental parts of historical 

 lifestyles, but none of the reality checks that produce them, i.e., log homes, but no 

 saw mills, cowboys but no cows, mining museums but no mines, reasonably priced 

 food but no inconvenience of slow moving farm equipment or cow manure on the 

 road. 



There are many pressures on federal lands such as the Black Hills National 

 Forest. We are a Nation with a high standard of intellect and experience. There are 

 ways of working through these problems without eliminating a rural custom and 



