15 



I am glad that the administration has rejected this shutdown proposal, has indi- 

 cated its willingness to work with us to develop a sensible policy. We have the op- 

 portunity to make some substantive changes, but we must make the changes care- 

 fully and deliberately. 



While we are developing this new policy in Washington, we must make sure it 

 works on the ground. To make sure it makes sense in Vermont, I am working with 

 the Vermont Forestry Communications Council. The Vermont Forestry Communica- 

 tions Council is a nonpolitical organization that represents the entire spectrum of 

 views in Vermont. 



HISTORY OF BELOW-COST TIMBER SALES 



Curbing below-cost timber sales is not a new issue. Almost 10 years ago, I support- 

 ed initial attempts to create an accounting system for timber sales. I review the 

 timber program in the Green Mountain National Forest of Vermont regularly to be 

 sure that it is fiscally and environmentally sound. 



DEFINING THE ISSUE OF BELOW-COST TIMBER SALES 



Today, the growing deficit commands our attention. We must scrutinize every pro- 

 gram to make sure it does not waste money. However, applying only fiscal analysis 

 to forest programs ignores important issues. If every land management strategy had 

 to produce a profit, then managing wildlife refuges, protecting wildernesses, main- 

 taining recreation areas, and conducting forest research would all be below cost. 



Should we eliminate these programs too? There is another dimension to the 

 below-cost timber sale issue — the environmental stewardship issue. I believe that is 

 the reason we are here today. 



WHY SOME BELOW-COST TIMBER SALES SHOULD BE ELIMINATED 



There are below-cost timber sales on Federal lands that should not go forward. 

 These are the timber sales on steep, erodible slopes, through roadless areas, and in 

 environmentally sensitive areas such as wetlands and high elevations. These sales 

 are costly, in fact, often below cost. This is the type of below-cost timber sale that 

 we must eliminate. It not only wastes money, it abuses our natural resources. It is 

 bad public policy. 



WHY SOME BELOW-COST SALES ARE APPROPRIATE 



However, as I mentioned, there are several dimensions to the issue. In the Green 

 Mountain National Forest in Vermont, the Forest Service uses the timber program 

 money to do the majority of their forest management. 



By forest management I mean everything from creating raspberry and blackberry 

 patches for berrypicking, to contributing to a statewide network of snowmobile 

 trails, to expanding the oak component of the forest to sustain an increased deer 

 population, to selective cutting around a Robert Frost interpretive trail to maintain 

 the land as it was when Robert Frost lived there. 



The point I want to make is that the Green Mountain National Forest is efficient, 

 conscientious in its stewardship and environmental compliance, and dependent on 

 the timber money to meet nontimber needs. We are years behind schedule in meet- 

 ing recreation and wildlife needs. We need the timber program funds to enhance 

 the forest and meet the demands of nontimber priorities. 



We must eliminate below-cost timber sales that degrade the environment. Howev- 

 er, we must make sure that overall environmental stewardship in our national for- 

 ests does not suffer because of timber program accounting issues. 



Eliminating the timber program money from the Green Mountain National 

 Forest allocation will not necessarily provide an environmental benefit. In fact, it is 

 a loss that would hurt both the environmental integrity of the forest and millions of 

 people. We must avoid this mistake. 



CONCLUSION 



Below-cost timber sales must be considered in the right contexts, and these in- 

 clude fiscal responsibility as well as environmental stewardship. I want to make 

 sure that we set our goals accurately. All timber sales are not inherently bad. In the 

 long run we must make sure that we can maintain high-quality, environmentally 

 oriented forest management. 



Senator Daschle. Senator Feingold has indicated he does not 

 have an opening statement, but I will call on him at this time. 



