35 



away because people do not recognize the effect upon the commu- 

 nity. 



Mr. Edwards. Let me put it this way. Congress is much less 

 likely to get stampeded than the State. 



The Chairman. Well, you have got a great deal more faith in the 

 Congress than I do. I have watched them. 



I do thank the panel. Again, I welcome the hostility. It is amaz- 

 ing that you can feel so threatened by one poor person who is 63 

 years old. It is amazing. 



Last, but not least, my good Forest Service individual, who I 

 have the highest respect for. Gary, you are up. 



STATEMENT OF GARY MORRISON, FOREST SUPERVISOR, U.S. 



FOREST SERVICE 



Mr. Morrison. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I wish I had been 

 first instead of last. 



Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for coming to Sitka for these hearings 

 today. I am pleased to have the opportunity to appear before you 

 to discuss the management of the Tongass National Forest and 

 present the administration's view on H.R. 2413, a bill to transfer 

 the Tongass National Forest to the State of Alaska. 



The full text of the administration's testimony is submitted for 

 the record. I would like to summarize it here today. 



As in earlier hearings held in Wrangell and Ketchikan, the De- 

 partment of Agriculture strongly opposed enactment of H.R. 2413. 

 Our opposition rests on both philosophical and pragmatic grounds. 

 Let me outline our position. 



The national forests belong to all Americans. For over 100 years, 

 during good economic times and bad, public lands have been a 

 source of goods and services that help assure local and regional 

 economic growth and diversity. Public resources have helped pro- 

 vide our nation with affordable recreation, wood, fish, wildlife, en- 

 ergy, and water. They have been the basis for environmental 

 health, yielding clean air and water for generations. 



The national forest system, covering more than 191 million acres, 

 is a important part of our public lands. Gifford Pinchot, the first 

 chief of the Forest Service, set down an operating philosophy that 

 is as appropriate today as it was when the agency was established. 



The national forests are managed for the greatest good for the 

 greatest number in the long run. 



By and large. Forest Service stewardship of this priceless re- 

 source has been a resounding success. Through multiple-use man- 

 agement, a concept that balances environmental health and human 

 needs, the national forests have provided substantial economic ben- 

 efits to surrounding communities. By basing management on the 

 best available science, we have been able to refine land manage- 

 ment practices to better protect and produce a full range of re- 

 sources. 



The full range of resources here in Alaska includes wildlife, fish, 

 recreation opportunities, timber, and, for us, subsistence. 



We recognize that some people disagree with certain aspects of 

 current management efforts. Some believe that we cut too much 

 timber, or, conversely, that we place too little emphasis on timber 

 products. We are dealing with these perceptions through improved 



