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and wasteful logging practices that have occurred on the Alaska 

 Native Corporations land grants on Prince of Wales Island and at 

 other locations. These operations were subject to the toothless and 

 ineffective Alaska State Forest Practices Act. 



Alaska Senator Robin Taylor's agenda is to pass a large portion 

 of these public lands into the hands of private owners once the 

 State has title. Provisions also to transfer a quarter of a million 

 acres to new Native corporations will complete the ultimate lock- 

 up of public-owned lands and resources and to lock out the public. 

 These communities failed to qualify as bona fide Native commu- 

 nities under the 1971 ANCSA even after appeal. This re-emergence 

 of consciousness and interest in the landless Native issue by the 

 delegation after cancellation of the APC contract is suspicious, see- 

 ing that there was no interest whatsoever during the 20 years prior 

 to contract cancellation. The Coalition does firmly support equi- 

 table compensation for legitimate claims by the landless Native 

 group. The Forest Service must be allowed to complete the revision 

 of the Tongass Land Management Plan without political inter- 

 ference. This is the first plan that uses the best science available, 

 recognizes previously suppressed scientific studies and contains a 

 legitimate public process. For the first time, there is a serious at- 

 tempt to address resources other than timber, along with timber. 



To extend the KPC contract beyond the 2002 and the reinstate- 

 ment of the cancelled APC contract is a bad idea and is not in the 

 long-term interest of the land nor the public. The two 50-year con- 

 tracts encouraged initial industrialization of Southeast Alaska. 

 Both have served their purpose well. However, times change, val- 

 ues change, conditions change, and people change. The change is 

 now. It is time to bring economic and biological sustainability to 

 the Tongass Forest and to the people of Southeast Alaska. The 

 Tongass plan is the best hope to accomplish this. 



Sitka is a model community trying to accomplish this balancing 

 act. Stika's recent referendum vote that would urge a clear-cut log- 

 ging "pause" to the Forest Service on National Forest lands in the 

 local Sitka Use Areas made a strong message. Although after a 

 questionable recount by city election officials, it was disclosed that 

 the referendum had failed by four votes, with a record voter turn- 

 out of 62 percent in this community of 8500. 



Our Coalition membership has clearly stated that we do not be- 

 lieve that the Alaska delegation is fairly representing our interests 

 nor the long-term interests of the public owners of the Tongass Na- 

 tional Forest. The proposed legislation is a clear signal that the 

 past practices of timber production at all costs until it runs out 

 will, if passed, be our future. Industry is really not interested in 

 timber that is less than 20,000 board feet per acre. If that is al- 

 lowed, then you can bet they will fold their tents and go home, and 

 then we will arrive back at this same crossroads again, only with 

 far less than we have today. The Tongass forest must remain na- 

 tional. It belongs to all of the people of the United States, and they 

 seem to be coming to Southeast Alaska in droves to visit their 

 property holdings and critique its management. 



This concludes my remarks, Mr. Chairman. 



The Chairman. Thank you, Ben, for your testimony. 



Robert, you are next. 



