68 

 POSTHEARING QUESTIONS FOR JAMES R. LYONS 



Questions From Senator Leahy and Mr. Lyons' Responses Thereto 

 funding for green mountain national forest 



Because of an unfortunate memorandum that circulated around the Forest Serv- 

 ice and into the press, many people fear a hasty, unjust, and destructive policy to 

 eliminate below-cost timber sales. 



I appreciate the Forest Service's attempts to clarify their intent regarding this 

 proposed method, but of course, it is difficult to fix an incorrect message, especially 

 one as controversial as this one. I hope we learned a lesson. 



More importantly, I appreciate the Forest Service's cooperation in working with 

 the committee and other Senators to work out a policy that addresses some of the 

 complexities of the below-cost timber sale issue. In the upcoming weeks we will have 

 a chance to craft a long-term solution that treats forests fairly, uses taxpayer money 

 wisely, and upholds sound environmental principles. 



Question 1. Given the discussions that the Forest Service and the Senate have had 

 on this issue, can you assure me that the Green Mountain National Forest and 

 others can count on timber program money in FY 1994 to meet their nontimber 

 needs? 



Answer. While there is an objective to phase out below-cost sales, no national 

 forest is expected to have its program eliminated in FY 1994. We expect that the 

 Green Mountain needs for nontimber objective sales will be considered by the Re- 

 gional Forester in the same light as he considers the needs of other national forests. 

 That is, the needs and capabilities of each national forest will be considered and 

 funded based on the allocation of the national program funding which reduces the 

 timber program by $46 million for below-cost sales. It is not expected that any one 

 national forest will have all of its nontimber needs met, but at the same time all 

 can expect to have some of their needs met. 



PUBLIC TRUST OF THE FOREST SERVICE 



I think one of the forces driving the below-cost timber sales issue is trust. Some 

 people have lost confidence in the Forest Service's ability to manage public land for 

 the public interest. One way of making sure the land isn't managed badly is to not 

 manage it at all. A $46 million dollar cut in your budget suggests that some people 

 want the Forest Service to stop timber management. 



Personally, I have a tremendous amount of respect for the men and women of the 

 Forest Service. The innovation, dedication, and professional competence that the 

 men and women bring to the Green Mountain National Forest is outstanding. Fur- 

 thermore, I have optimism that forest stewardship will continue to improve. 



Nonetheless, it appears that a significant number of people believe, and with 

 reason, that the public forests are not managed for the greatest public benefit. The 

 most immediate example, of course, is the Pacific Northwest. The court has ruled 

 that the Forest Service broke the law. In fact, they were found guilty several times. 

 Obvious'y. this doesn't inspire trust. 



Thif is not just a regional phenomenon. It occurs in various forests throughout 

 the 'Nation. I want to reiterate my own vote of confidence in your work overall, but 

 address the public concern that has surfaced. 



Question 2. Why has the public confidence in the Forest Service eroded, and how 

 do you intend to rebuild that confidence? In answering the question, I encourage 

 you to challenge negative perceptions and make a case for public trust. 



Answer. As a lead in to the above question, the introduction to this question 

 states that a significant number of people believe that the "public forests are not 

 managed for the greatest public interest." 



Defining the public interest tends to be quite subjective. It also tends to change 

 over time with changing societal values. Public confidence is a tangible, but similar- 

 ly elusive concept, subject to shifts over time. 



For this reason, responding fully to this question requires discussing some histori- 

 cal background on the Forest Service and the American conservation movement. 

 That way, what is happening today can be put in context with issues the agency has 

 faced in the past. Every organization is in many ways a product of its history and 

 culture. The Forest Service is no exception. 



The Early Years 



The roots of the Forest Service go back to the Nation's first conservation move- 

 ment at the end of the 19th century. At that time many people began to realize that 



