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meeting. They will be meeting tomorrow night and they will take a 

 position, and I will supply the committee with that outcome. 



Senator McClure. Thank you. 



Mr. Lindh. 



Mr. Lindh. Senator McClure, last spring when Governor Cooper 

 testified in Sitka before this committee, he urged the committee to 

 move forward with adopting the proposal that had been put forth 

 by the Southeast Conference last March. He felt it was time to put 

 the issues behind us. 



The longer that this legislative material is delayed, it seems like 

 the bigger the bite is taken. So there is that judgment. 



Senator McClure. You are tired of waiting, you are tired of the 

 fight; let us do it even if it is wrong? 



Mr. Lindh. Well, no, I would not say do it if it is wrong. But it 

 seems to be getting worse each year that we delay. 



Senator McClure. All right. The fight gets worse, the informa- 

 tion does not get better? 



Mr. Lindh. Well, let me say something about information. 



Senator McClure. Or is the fight irrespective of information? 



Mr. Lindh. I think we are always looking for better information. 



Senator McClure. But not waiting for it? 



Mr. Lindh. Well, I think that the information that was available, 

 that is available now, which was the data base that was used to 

 develop the first TLMP document, is pretty good information. 

 There has been a lot of new additional information available since 

 then which is available to everyone. 



Senator McClure. That has changed some minds, too, has it not? 

 As we have gotten more information, some people have changed 

 their minds? 



Mr. Lindh. I think that it has changed some minds. In fact, I 

 think that some of the more recent research that the National 

 Marine Fisheries Service has done is the basis for all this talk 

 about stream buffers. That is an example of using new information. 



Senator McClure. And they have changed their mind? 



Mr. Lindh. Pardon me? 



Senator McClure. And they have changed their minds? They are 

 now diametrically opposite of where they were ten years ago? 



Mr. Lindh. I cannot speak for where they were ten years ago. 



Senator McClure. Mr. Finney? 



Mr. Finney. Yes, we certainly favor the TLMP process. We think 

 it is going to give you the very best information and the best public 

 input. It goes through the total environment process, where you 

 have a draft environment impact statement. People will get to look 

 at that draft, make comments on it, before the Forest Service 

 makes a final record decision and goes to a final environmental 

 impact statement. 



We certainly favor that over some sort of a legislative, mandated 

 solution. 



Senator McClure. Ms. Troll. 



Ms. Troll. The United Fishermen of Alaska, who testified on 

 this issue a year or so ago, came out with a pro-multiple use posi- 

 tion that recognized that there is an imbalance currently 



Senator McClure. I am not asking what your position is.I am 

 asking whether you want to wait for the plan or not. 



