228 



body questions that. But the debate seems to be how we should 

 best manage it for the greatest good, and I think that is where we 

 have been falling short lately. 



Mrs. Chenoweth. Thank you. 



Mr. DOOLITTLE. I just have to interject here. Did I understand 

 we are not having a draft report like was always represented to us 

 where Congress gets to comment on it and then there is a final re- 

 port produced based on our input? Are you telling me now we are 

 going to have a final report released before we ever get to see it? 



Mr. Unger, do you want to comment on that? 



Mr. Unger. I would like Mr. Aune to comment. I believe that is 

 the case. 



Mr. Aune. That is absolutely the case. We requested a late-suc- 

 cessional and an old-growth ecosystem study, H.R. 5503, and we at- 

 tempted to deliver that. We used H.R. 6013 as guidance, we did not 

 follow it absolutely. The bill that was passed that authorized the 

 s'udy was very straightforward and direct. In our draft report, in- 

 terim progress report, we did not promise nor do we expect to de- 

 liver a draft report. You will get a final report on June 7th. 



Mr. DOOLITTLE. Every understanding that I have ever had, in- 

 cluding conversations that would have been no more than 8 weeks 

 ago with the head of SNEP, it was indicated to me we would have 

 a chance to review that and modify it and then go to the final re- 

 port. How did we get from there to this? 



Mr. Aune. We have said on the record an interim progress report 

 is what we would deliver. We said in 1994 we would deliver the 

 final report to Congress. It called for a science assessment by an 

 independent panel of scientists, and they were given, as we under- 

 stood it, authorization to complete an independent study free from 

 influence. 



What does the science say for the nature and condition of the Si- 

 erra Nevada? What are some opportunities for involvement? 



We did have an active and aggressive public involvement process 

 with the development of SNEP, but the report is the sole property 

 of science and is given to you for your disposition. There is no 

 where that I know of that there is a promise for a draft other than 

 the statement in H.R. 6013. 



Mr. DOOLITTLE. So are we going to get the report at the same 

 time it is released to the public? Is that what you are telling us? 



Mr. Aune. You will get it first. We will deliver it to Congress and 

 the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of Interior, as men- 

 tioned in H.R. 6013. 



Mr. DOOLITTLE. Thank you. 



Mr. Herger is recognized. 



Mr. Herger, Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 



Mr. Snyder, it is my understanding that you have been a profes- 

 sional forester in the Sierra Nevadas for 24 years? 



Mr. Snyder. That is correct. 



Mr. Herger. Based on your 24 years of practical on-the-ground 

 experience, is it your opinion that large unmanaged reserves are 

 needed in the Sierra Nevada to protect old-growth ecosystems, and 

 what, in your opinion, would be the result to forest fire risk if such 

 reserves were created? 



