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process to proceed and which would facilitate, rather than block, that planning 

 process. 



Second, while we have identified a number of areas that should be protected from 

 commercial harvest, we have always specified that these areas should not be classi- 

 fied as, in quotes, capital W, Wilderness. We previously have proposed a legislative 

 LUD-2 classification. However, this classification will no longer be used by the 

 Forest Service in the TLMP revision. 



We thus support instead a legislative land use classification for the protected 

 areas that will protect certain land areas from commercial timber harvest, while 

 not stopping mining, lodges, roads, or other needed uses which fit within the TLMP. 



Third, as you and others, including the Southeast Conference, have heard through 

 a continuous flow of communications, the twelve areas and their boundaries as 

 originally proposed did not reflect some concerns very dear to many communities in 

 southeast Alaska. As a result, a proposal was submitted to the Southeast Conference 

 board on January 23rd, 1990, which proposed a modification of some of those origi- 

 nal boundaries and added several areas to be included in the no-timber harvest des- 

 ignation. 



This proposal is being forwarded to you, as it was approved at a subsequent meet- 

 ing on February 2nd, 1990. Pertinent comments from the public received during the 

 comment period will follow shortly under separate cover. 



This proposal adds areas important to five southeast communities to the original 

 list. Six of the original twelve areas have not been changed and six have been 

 changed to allow resource development not considered in the original proposal. 



You will be acting on a matter that deeply affects the lives of those who live here 

 in the Tongass National Forest. We urge you to keep that fact before you as you 

 deal with this difficult matter. 



Sincerely, Mayor Ted Ferry, Ketchikan, President, Southeast Conference. 



The Chairman. Mr. Griffin, by the way, we do not have a copy of 

 your formal proposal. 



Mr. Griffin. I apologize. I was told that you had, sir. 



The Chairman. Thank you very much, Mr. Griffin. 



Next we will hear from Mr. K.J. Metcalf, Vice President of the 

 Southeast Alaska Conservation Council. 



STATEMENT OF K.J. METCALF, VICE PRESIDENT, SOUTHEAST 

 ALASKA CONSERVATION COUNCIL 



Mr. Metcalf. Thank you. I appreciate being here today. 



For the record, my name is K.J. Metcalf. I live in Angoon, 

 Alaska. I worked 20 years for the Forest Service on the Tongass, 

 was involved in planning, public involvement, and as manager of 

 Admiralty Island National Monument. 



In 1982 I resigned my position because I totally disagreed with 

 the timber at any cost approach to managing the Tongass, and I 

 realized that reform of the Tongass would only result from pres- 

 sures outside of the agency, rather than within the agency. 



I am here to state that SEACC strongly supports permanent pro- 

 tection for the key fish and wildlife areas and the mandatory 

 buffer strips in H.R. 987. 



Also, since 1986 the Forest Service has said to wait until the Ton- 

 gass revision is completed before passing legislation. The promised 

 revision is currently two years behind scheduling, totally inad- 

 equate, and it is likely that it will not meet the legal requirements. 



The only solution is for Congress to enact reform legislation that 

 will help solve the enormous problems of the Tongass and will 

 allow the Forest Service to develop a workable plan. 



In the past SEACC has testified before this committee in support 

 of the wilderness protection for 22 key fish and wildlife areas and 

 special management protection for a twenty-third area. We have 



