58 



make any closing remarks since you have heard the testimony of 

 the three panels that followed you. 



Mr. Bailey, Mr. Hughes, Mr. Hauptman and Mr. Bowers, thank 

 you very much for being here and giving your testimony. 



Does anyone from the Forest Service wish to make a closing 

 statement? 



Mr. Laverty. If I can just take a moment, I will. Thank you. 



I think as you have listened to the testimony, you understand a 

 little bit of the complexity of managing an area as special as Hells 

 Canyon. 



I guess what I would like to just close with, and Mr. Cooley, a 

 couple of comments. 



As you look at the business of recreation of a National Forest, 

 it really is big business. In 1994, we just completed an assessment 

 for GAO that talks about the value and the revenues generated by 

 concession operations on the National Forests. That would be the 

 outfitters and guides, our concession campgrounds, and the ski 

 areas. 



The gross revenues from those operations in the National Forests 

 in 94' was $1,200,000,000, so I think it does give you some indica- 

 tion of the magnitude of the interests on the National Forest, and 

 that is just from recreational use. 



There are 5,400 outfitters and guides, different concession opera- 

 tors, so it really is an incredible business, but I think that what 

 you have heard this morning is in fact what draws people to that 

 use. It is the amazing attractions that exist in our National For- 

 ests, and as I look at what is going on, and I jotted down just a 

 couple of comments. 



I think the people that are involved in trying to make some of 

 these decisions are really passionate about the resource for the fu- 

 ture, and I think they are trying to do what is right for the re- 

 source for the future as well as deal with the issues that we are 

 wrestling with this morning. 



I was thinking about Solomon. I think we are looking for the wis- 

 dom of Solomon. We just don't want to cut the baby in half, and 

 maybe that is the dilemma that we have. 



What I would just like to do is a couple of comments just to close 

 it off. I think the idea that our process, we do have a good process 

 that works, and I hesitate with the word process, because some- 

 times, that really gets to be a burden, but we do have an oppor- 

 tunity to engage people in terms of helping make some of these de- 

 cisions, in terms of giving ideas and information, and the decision 

 resting with that line officer like the Bob Richmonds, those people 

 are the most knowledgeable people that we have in the organiza- 

 tion to bring that all together. I would really encourage you to let 

 that process work, and we have a good mechanism. 



Finally, I would just suggest also that in this process, it is one 

 which truly invites public participation and you have heard from 

 all three panels about their participation, and not everybody is 

 happy, and that gets to be the dilemma that the final 

 decisionmaker has to make, what is best for the resource and hope- 

 fully, for future generations. 



Thank you again, though, for the opportunity just to share with 

 you some comments. 



