74 



Answer. No, the allocation process has been much the same. Again, however, the 

 objective to eliminate below-cost sales is now one of the considerations in the alloca- 

 tion process. 



Question 11. What would change if Congress does not set timber targets in appro- 

 priations? 



Answer. The Forest Service would set targets using forest plans that use an eco- 

 system-based strategy for natural resource management. 



Question 12. How else can Congress assure Forest Service efforts and performance 

 that meet public demands? 



Answer. The Congress can, through both oversight and appropriations hearings, 

 request that the Forest Service provide information to ensure the agency is meeting 

 public demands. Other areas where Congress can determine if the agency is meeting 

 public demands is by monitoring the agency's public involvement process during 

 program and project environmental assessments. 



Question 13. How can Congress review Forest Service efforts and performance 

 when the annual report is delivered several months after the budget justification, 

 even though NFMA requires they be delivered together? 



Answer. Specific information can be provided within a few weeks to Congress 

 before the completion of the final report. 



Question 14- Wouldn't internal targets still be established? 



Answer. Yes, targets could still be established based on the funding allocated and 

 the capabilities submitted by the regions using each forest's plan. The key change in 

 the process would be that the forest plans would be based on an ecosystem manage- 

 ment approach and that targets would be established to meet these ecosystem wide 

 objectives. The targets would still be negotiated between the field units and the re- 

 gional and Washington office to provide the target levels. 



Question 15. Without them, how will the annual performance of Forest Service 

 managers be evaluated? 



Answer. We still believe the assignment of some type of target attainment objec- 

 tives is important for the evaluation process. However, this does not mean that the 

 assignment of targets means a manager will be assigned a timber harvest target 

 that they must achieve to obtain a good rating. The agency is exploring opportuni- 

 ties to provide targets that relate to meeting ecosystem management objectives in- 

 cluding using a numerical range rather than a specific value for timber harvest as 

 well as other resource targets. 



Question 16. Are some below-cost timber sales driven by the Forest Service's at- 

 tempts to meet targets? 



Answer. No, the target assignments have been made by considering the timber 

 capability identified in the forest plans and a proposed level that would be within 

 that capability when distributed nationally. The targets have not been constrained 

 by below cost as a controlling criteria since cost analysis was part of the forest plan 

 development process. Since many forests have lands in their suitable timber base 

 that will not support above-cost timber sales, targets that are accomplished on these 

 lands will be below cost. 



Question 17. In your estimation, has Congress encouraged below-cost timber sales 

 on national forests by setting timber targets? 



Answer. Congress has set targets to meet timber demand for the Nation and for 

 promoting community stability and some of these sales have been below cost. How- 

 ever, these timber harvest levels have been established based on forest plan objec- 

 tives for each national forest and included meeting standards and guidelines for 

 other resources. 



Question 18. How do the annual timber sale targets in the budget justification 

 relate to the allowable sale quantities (ASQs) established in the forest plans? How 

 are the ASQs set in the forest plans? What factors are considered, and how are they 

 considered, in establishing the ASQ? What constraints are placed on establishing 

 the ASQ? Are historical sale levels, dependent mills and communities, and/or politi- 

 cal pressure (from Congress and elsewhere) considered in these constraints? What 

 factors are considered, and how are they considered, in determining the lands not 

 suited for timber production? Is the identification of lands as not suited for timber 

 production affected by the ASQ or any other timber output target? 

 Answer. 



ESTABLISHMENT OF ASQ's IN THE FOREST PLANS 



Overview 



The NFMA regulations define the Allowable Sale Quantity (ASQ) as "the quanti- 

 ty of timber that may be sold from the area of suitable land covered by the forest 



