10 



and wilderness experiences, wildlife habitat, soil and water resources, and other en- 

 vironmental benefits. Over 691 million visits were made to our campgrounds and 

 recreation areas in Fiscal Year 1992 contributing an estimated $6 billion to local 

 and rural economies. We provided technical and financial assistance to more than 

 190,000 State and private landowners. State foresters, local agencies, and American 

 Indian Tribes. In FY 1992, we cooperated with over 4,285 State, local, and county 

 governments, private associations, and numerous interest groups, to construct, reha- 

 bilitate, and improve recreation, wildlife, trails, and research projects. Also, the 

 Forest Service timber sale program generated almost 94,000 jobs Nationwide last 

 fiscal year. 



The Black Hills National Forest which is located in Western South Dakota and 

 Eastern Wyoming, contains 1.2 million acres of National Forest System lands with 

 300,000 acres of private ownership intermixed. In Fiscal Year 1992, we returned 

 over $4.1 million to the States and counties from receipts generated from the sale of 

 timber and other forest activities. Through our State and Private Forestry Program, 

 we provided $595,000 in federal financial assistance. Also, more than 2,100 jobs were 

 created in South Dakota and Wyoming from our timber sale program. 



The current Forest Plan was approved by the regional forester in 1983. In accord- 

 ance with the requirements of the National Forest Management Act, we are in the 

 process of revising that plan. Based on the results of Forest Plan monitoring and on 

 public input, we have identified six areas where significant changes may be needed 

 in the plan. These areas are water yield, roadless areas, locatable minerals, leasable 

 minerals, suitable timber lands and the allowable sale quantity on those lands, and 

 biological diversity. Further, we have developed nine alternative strategies that will 

 address these areas including an alternative that essentially continues current man- 

 agement practices. All alternatives comply with direction contained in relevant leg- 

 islation such as the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, the National Forest 

 Management Act of 1976, and the Endangered Species Act of 1973. 



In the revision process, each alternative will be evaluated for its efficacy in pro- 

 ducing a healthy, productive forest. Social and economic consequences will be dis- 

 played, and a recommendation will be made as to which alternative produces the 

 best mix of goods and services, both commodities and amenities. 



I must stress that, at this point, no decisions have been made regarding the alter- 

 native to be selected in the Forest Plan revision. A draft plan with the recommend- 

 ed alternative should be published this winter. After it is released, a 90-day public 

 comment period will occur. We will then consider all public input and modify the 

 draft plan as appropriate and publish the final Forest Plan revision, probably some 

 time next summer. Let me now turn to specific program areas, their contribution to 

 local economies and to changes that might result from the Forest Plan revision. 



One of our major programs is recreation. We use concessionaires to operate many 

 of our campgrounds. Our four concessionaires took in $160,000 in camping fees in 

 1992 and paid the Federal Government $25,000, while providing quality service to 

 the public. There are also many small businesses serving the visitor to the Black 

 Hills, from providing teeshirt sales at the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, to horseback 

 rides in Deadwood, to hot air balloon rides in Custer. For 1992, we estimate that 

 recreationists on the Forest contributed over $31 million to the local economies. 

 Based on available information, we do not anticipate significant changes in the 

 recreation program due to revision of the Forest Plan. However, some revision alter- 

 natives would increase opportunities for semi-primitive recreation across the Forest. 

 If additional wilderness is designated, recreation opportunities on those acres would 

 change from current use. 



Another of our major customers is the local rancher who has a grazing permit for 

 National Forest System lands. In 1992, approximately 22,000 animals grazed on the 

 Black Hills National Forest. Forty-three percent of our total number of permits are 

 for less than 50 animals, 40 percent of our permits are for 50-150 animals and only 

 17 percent are for over 150 animals. All of our permittees are small business men or 

 women. The revenue the Forest Service received for permits in 1992 was $168,000; of 

 that, $84,000 went back to the Black Hills National Forest for local range improve- 

 ments, $42,000 to the counties, and the rest into the Federal treasury. We anticipate 

 that revision of the Forest Plan will result in little change in the current range pro- 

 gram on the forest, although modifications in the timber program may affect forage 

 availability in some instances due to changes in canopy composition. As the canopy 

 becomes more or less open, the Forest produces more or less forage. Additionally, 

 minor changes may occur as we take action to improve some riparian areas under 

 permit. 



Mining is another program on the forest. Larger mines, such as Homestake, are 

 mostly on private land, but there are some small business mining companies operat- 



