204 



to note that ttio Black HHIb NatioMi Forest Is not harvested by the saine methodi sometimes 

 used in the Paciflo Northwest The tfmiser industry does not clear cut pine in the BlacK Hills, 

 but rather uses eelactive thlnnbio to remove a poiton of the trees at any one givan time (an 

 exception to the dear cut method would be for salvage operations such as a bumed or blow 

 down area). As a matter of fact, the timber industry currently operates on about 5% or 30,000 

 acres of the Black Hills National Forest in any given year. 



For these reasons, I also don^ support the South Dakota Wilderness Act of 1993. This act 

 wouM have the effect of removing virtually half of the Black Hills National Forest from human 

 access, except by those that are physically and financially able to take the time necessary to 

 hike into thwm, Of course, these olita users would go somewhere eise for their recreation once 

 the reduced management resulted in a wildfire, leaving those of us who live here to deal whh 

 the aftermath. I think an important feature that this act has that is being overlooked is the 

 backdoor method that the Slenv Club and the other supporter environmental groups are taking 

 to implement their prefen^d alternative of a forest management plan for the Black Hills. Not 

 only does this act designate thousands of acres as wlldemess, but section 6 of the act would 

 also put In place a 12 member committee who would be responslUe for the management of 

 the Black Hills. This committee would be made up of 10 representatives from the 

 "environmentalist" side of this issue, and 2 representatives of government and 'resource 

 extractk^n' industries. This committee, although called a research study, Is charged with 

 implementing the "Core, Buffer, Corridor" management plan proposed by several 

 presen/ationist groups earlier this year. An important feature of this plan is that the act does 

 not allow fbr any public comment period, or for public comment to even be taken in to account 

 when implementing this plan, while the cureni forest managsment laws REQUIRE public input 

 be sought and addressed. 



The Black Hais is peppered with iitaraily thousands of small private land parcels thnsughout the 

 national forest Whan asked about how these lands would be affected by this, our 

 presen/ationist friends respond by stating that they feel the U.S. government shoiid purchase 

 all private land within the forest boundaries. Where, may I ask are the funds going to oome 

 from for this? And Just where are the people that Bve here going to go & work? I don't believe 

 any retraining program put in place would be effective as there just arent any other jobs 

 avaSable In this region. Senator, the fact remains that the Black Hills has been changed 

 forever by over 100 years of management and settlement It is simply not possible to return to 

 allowing mother nature to manage these lands. 



I am also concerned wKh tie public safe^ issue of allowing n^other nature to take a more 

 active role in managing a forest that is populated with humans. Prtor to our management 

 activities, mother nature managed the Black Hills forest by what tends to be catastrophic 

 methods as compared to our present management methods. Insect infestations, disease, and 

 wildfire were the principle tools used by mother nature. The result is a forest that has fewer 

 trees than the preswit in most places. And where there are dense stands, they are so dense 

 that even "old growUV consists of trees that are 150 years old and only 6 inches In diameter. 

 These stands are a prime target for the next wildfire. Our preservationist friends have stated 

 that we need more old growth In the Black Hills. My contention is that what they reaBy want is 

 more BIG trees ratiier than oM trees. 



In addition to my employment, I am also Assistant Fire Chief for the Rockervllle Voiunteer Rre 

 Depaitnent. Rookerville Is located about half way betvveen Rapid City and Mount Rushmore 

 National Memorial, and hence contains both private lands as well as Black Hills National Foivst 



