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dumping toxic sludge from its mill into Ward Cove, would see pro- 

 visions requiring it to pay timber prices comparable to independent 

 operators eliminated. Alaska Pulp Corporation would see its 50- 

 year contract reinstated. That is not a bad deal for a company that 

 breached its last timber contract and ended up displacing 400 em- 

 ployees in Sitka because of the corporation's business decision to 

 close shop. Your special interests, sir, are really apparent when you 

 cater to KPC and APC like this. 



The bill you have proposed is nothing more than election-year 

 politics and grandstanding on your part as the chair of the House 

 Resources Committee. Your bill seriously threatens lifestyles of 

 Sitkans and fellow Americans alike. Your transfer bill only trans- 

 fers the wealth of the Tongass out of the control of the American 

 public. 



I strongly urge you to drop this bill immediately and start listen- 

 ing to the people of Southeast Alaska. 



One final comment, Congressman Young. You see all the people 

 that are here this morning? I think every one of the people sitting 

 here came to listen this morning but probably, more importantly, 

 many of them wanted to give testimony but were not on the invited 

 list. Why not turn this closed hearing into a true public hearing 

 and allow the people that are here today to give you testimony? 



Thank you. 



The Chairman. You know, this amazes me, and I hope you all 

 feel real good. You love to attack me and question me, hit me and 

 say what a dastardly soul Don Young is and this is a democracy. 

 We have these people in the audience cheering. It is fun. At least 

 you are discussing something. At least you are bringing out your 

 points of view, and why the hostility, for the life of me, I cannot 

 understand. 



Are you threatened? My God, I am 63 years old. 



Do you feel inadequate? You have won — I am not through yet. 

 You have won every battle you have had on the Tongass. Larry, I 

 get a kick out of you. You are a pistol. 



Let me read something from 1989. "First, let me say that we are 

 concerned, as everyone in this room, with a need to maintain a 

 healthy economy and stable industry in Southeast Alaska." Who 

 said that? 



Mr. Edwards. I guess you are saying that I said that. 



The Chairman. What happens in Sitka if the mill shuts down? 

 "By this act, we are not going to affect the timber base at all," and 

 this is SEACC supporting the Tongass Reform Act, comments made 

 by yourself at this table. No mill shutdown, no loss of timber, no 

 loss of jobs, a sound economy. Those are all statements made by 

 you. 



I want to ask you: If the mill is not shut down, what is this 

 empty building out there? 



Mr. Edwards. Well, I think the question, really, is why did the 

 mill shut down. 



The Chairman. Why did you say that? 



Mr. Edwards. I think the question is why did the mill shut 

 down, and if you go back and you read all the newspaper articles, 

 they did not say Larry Edwards in there once. They did not say the 



