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Pacific Northwest. As volume under contract declined due to court injunctions and failure of the 

 Administration to fulfill promises for new timber sales, the number of operating mills in the 

 region also declined. Without a dramatic increase in the federal timber sale program, at least to 

 levels promised under the President's Northwest Forest Plan, the region will continue to see the 

 closure of mills and the loss of logging and allied service sector jobs in our rural timber 

 dependent communities. 



Need For Congressional Intervention 



Clearly, the President's Northwest Forest Plan is not working, the Clinton Administration's 

 performance record relative to the promises it made to northwest communities, has been abysmal 

 and therefore Congress must intervene. 



The first thing that Congress could do is once again direct the Clinton Administration to release 

 the existing sold timber sale contracts as directed by Section 200 l(k) of the Rescissions Act. 

 Second, Congress must re-establish a federal timber sale program that would begin sawlog 

 timber flowing to Pacific Northwest mills. Third, Congress must re-establish a forest 

 management planning process that returns decisions to experienced professionals and local 

 concerned citizens instead of multiple layers of bureaucrats and political appointees. 



The most important point to remember is just because a federal district court judge has decided 

 that the President's Northwest Forest Plan is legal, does not mean it is the only legal alternative. 

 The court had issued an injunction blocking new timber sales based on violations of procedural 

 requirements in NFMA and NEPA. Given a clear mandate and the flexibility to find workable 

 solutions, it is my opinion that the Forest Service and BLM resource management professionals 

 could develop a forest management plan that would protect the environment and provide a 

 reasonable, timber supply for the region's timber dependent communities. 



This concludes my prepared remarks. I would be happy to answer any questions you might have. 

 Thank you. 



