217 



but only create more. Because there has never been a basis in law 

 for the creation of these ecosystem management projects. 



I would hope that this Congress would continue to address these 

 projects as it did in the appropriations bill that came out of Mr. 

 Regula's committee. That is the only time that we have really ad- 

 dressed these. 



Therefore, we have to admit this whole project is built on a house 

 of cards and we are taking money from the American people on a 

 project that was read into the record. I find that terribly egregious. 

 And the fact is that it indicates that the process is sick and we 

 have — I also want to say for the record, I happen to know Mr. 

 Mealy's work. He is one of the finest foresters in this Nation, and 

 my respect for Mr. Blackwood is great. They have fine people work- 

 ing on a project that is built on a house of cards, and I hope that 

 this Congress has the courage to do something about it. 



Mr. Hansen. Read into the record, you mentioned that. I have 

 a hard time following that. 



Mrs. Chenoweth. The SNEP law was introduced in this commit- 

 tee in 1993. It did not have hearings, did not have debate, did not 

 have a vote. Mr. Miller and Mr. Vento read it into the committee 

 record, and that is what this house of cards has been built on. That 

 is what the Sierra Nevada Ecosystem Project was built on. 



Mr. Hansen. You referred to the Ranking Member. They were 

 then the Chairman and the subcommittee Chairman. 



Mrs. Chenoweth. That is the only indication that a project was 

 even authorized. It was simply read into the committee record. It 

 was never authorized 



Mr. Hansen. It wasn't part of the bill? 



Mrs. Chenoweth. No. 



Mr. Hansen. The gentleman from California, Mr. Doolittle. 



Mr. Doolittle. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 



I apologize for missing the testimony of the panel. I was chairing 

 another subcommittee and left to come here since I have such an 

 interest. 



My district is greatly impacted by what these decisions will be 

 pertaining to, both SNEP and CASPO. If this has been asked, I 

 apologize for asking it again, but when is the CASPO report com- 

 ing out. As I understand it, SNEP is going to be released June 7th? 



Mr. Unger. That is correct. The California Owl Environmental 

 Impact Statements and records of decision are expected to be re- 

 leased after the release of the SNEP report. 



Mr. Doolittle. And any idea, roughly in terms of the time- 

 frame — are we talking a month later, 2 months later? 



Mr. Unger. I am not aware yet of any decision as to the exact 

 timeframe. 



Mr. Doolittle. It is my understanding that we have not seen 

 many if any benefits under the Emergency Salvage Timber law the 

 Congress passed because of the constraints placed upon us under 

 CASPO in those forests. Is that your understanding? 



Mr. Unger. I am not specifically familiar with those particular 

 forests. I do know that across the country, as a whole, we are mov- 

 ing forward as expeditiously as possible and expect to meet our 

 goals for the salvage harvest. 



Phil, do you have further information? 



