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from the procedures followed in the Southeast Conference report? Did the 

 authors of the Southeast Conference report have the benefit of the 

 professional opinions and public input that your revised plan will produce7 



Answer: Not having been directly involved, we cannot say for certain what 

 procedures the Southeast Conference used. In our opinion, the Southeast 

 Conference report represents an attempt at compromise on some of the important 

 issues. We consider the results of the Southeast Conference effort a very 

 important form of public input to the planning process we are conducting. 



Question 7. The Southeast Alaska Conservation Council strongly supports 23 

 areas for wilderness designation. Do you have any idea what criteria they 

 used in selecting these areas? 



Answer: We do not have documentation outlining the criteria used by SEACC in 

 selecting the 23 areas for wilderness designation other than as stated in 

 their testimony before this and other Committees of the Congress. 



Question 8 . At page 5 of its testimony, SEACC says that "over half of the 

 finest and best of the biggest trees have been logged." Does the Forest 

 Service agree or disagree, and what is the basis for your answer? 



Answer: We disagree. We are not sure what SEACC means by the "finest and 

 best of the biggest trees" but think they are probably referring to acres that 

 have more than 30 MBF per acre. We have formulated our reply accordingly. 



In FY 1952 there were about 800 thousand acres with volume exceeding 30 MBF 

 per acre on the Tongass National Forest. Between FY 1952 and FY 1989, 

 176 thousand acres have been harvested in that class, leaving a balance of 625 

 thousand acres or 78 percent still remaining. 



Question 9. At page 5 of its testimony, SEACC says that between 1954 and 

 1988, six indicator species have each already declined by at least 20 percent 

 on the southern half of the Tongass, according to the Ketchikan Pulp Company 

 Forest Service Environmental Impact Statement for the 1989-94 operating 

 period. Does the Forest Service agree or disagree, and what is the basis for 

 your answer? 



Answer: The Forest Service disagrees. SEACC has misrepresented the 

 information. The figures in the FEIS for Ketchikan Pulp Company 

 (KPC) represent reductions in habitat only, not necessarily population. In 

 addition to habitat, wildlife populations are influenced by food availability, 

 hunting, predation, trapping, etc. Changes in habitat do not translate 

 directly to changes in population. Further, habitat capability is not an 

 animal count or population census. 



Question 10. At page 5 of its testimony, SEACC says the KPC 1989-94 FEIS 

 shows the following declines by 2054: 



