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tively withdrawn areas, six percent; riparian reserves, 11 percent; 

 and matrix land, 16 percent. Approximately 19.5 million acres of 

 the Northwest Forest Plan are National Forest System lands, of 

 which 22 percent is in the matrix in adaptive management areas. 



The sustainable production of forest products is a key part of the 

 Northwest Forest Plan. The Northwest Forest Plan estimated a po- 

 tential timber sale quantity of just over a billion board feet per 

 year for the Forest Service and BLM management areas combined. 

 The Forest Service's portion of this volume is approximately 850 

 million board feet. As forest plans are revised and on-the-ground 

 analysis is completed, we will revise the PSQ. 



In 1995, the Forest Service planned to offer 454 million board 

 feet and exceeded that volume by offering nearly 500 million board 

 feet. A portion of the excess volume came from late successional re- 

 serves and riparian reserves as a result of meeting ecosystem objec- 

 tives. In 1996, the Forest Service plans to offer 610 million board 

 feet, and in 1997, we will offer sufficient volume to meet the full 

 estimated PSQ. 



In short, Madam Chairwoman, we are on track for preparing 

 timber sales under the provisions of the Northwest Forest Plan 

 consistent with our commitment to ramp up to a sustainable level 

 of forest offerings. 



The accomplishments we have realized in managing National 

 Forest System lands are the result of taking to heart President 

 Clinton's principle to make the Federal Government work together 

 and work for the American people. To facilitate this coordination, 

 the Federal agencies have developed the Northwest Forest Plan 

 Interagency Cooperative Structure. Part of this structure facilitates 

 the Northwest Economic Assistance Initiative, that I just discussed. 

 The Regional Interagency Executive Committee serves as the sen- 

 ior regional body coordinating and implementing the forest plan. A 

 Regional Ecosystem Office provides independent recommendations 

 and scientific technical and other staff support to the REIC. 



The Northwest Forest Plan area is divided into 12 provinces with 

 distinct land ecosystem and climatic qualities and an advisory com- 

 mittee is included in each province. As a result of these advisory 

 committees, there have been over 300 people involved in advisory 

 meetings concerning the forest plan. 



Working in partnership with other agencies and the public, many 

 accomplishments have been made. Some of these accomplishments 

 are the completion of a revised Interagency Watershed Analysis 

 Guide, streamlined consultation, the distribution of over $29 mil- 

 lion of economic assistance through the Community Economic Revi- 

 talization Teams, an interagency monitoring plan, the development 

 of a strong linkage among the existing State Rural Development 

 Councils and Community Economic Revitalization Teams. 



In conclusion, we feel we have made significant progress in meet- 

 ing the goals set forth in President Clinton's historic conference 

 and encompassed in the Northwest Forest Plan, goals of supporting 

 people and communities during a period of economic transition, of 

 providing for sustainable forest products, protecting and restoring 

 the environment, ensuring that Federal agencies work together as 

 one government, and adhering to our nation's laws and utilizing 



