88 



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Ninety-four (94) persons testified at the April 24, 1989 hearing in Ketchikan, and another 

 ninety-six (96) testified at the April 25, 1989 hearing in Sitka. Unlike your hearings on 

 H.R. 2413, the TTRA hearings were open and fair. 

 SEACC strongly opposes your bill, and here are some reasons why: 



If Ever Passed. H.R. 2413 Would Spell The Beginning Of The End 

 For Our 100 Year Tradition Of Public Ownership Of National 

 Forest Lands . 



This extremist bill really represents a radical reversal and re-write of almost 100 years of 

 national forest policy in Alaska and across the U.S.A. 



Republican President Teddy Roosevelt established the Tongass National Forest in 

 1907 " 99 years ago. President Roosevelt's Idea for our national forests was that 

 they were to be managed for " the greatest good for the greatest number In the long 

 run ." 



H.R. 2413 directly contradicts this principle of public land stewardship because the long 

 term goal of your bill represents the ultimate "lock-up" of formerly public lands and the 

 "lock-out" of the public when these lands end up in private hands. The former Tongass 

 would be reduced to ridge to ridge clearculs and tons of no-trespassing signs — across 

 lands which were once open for public hunting and fishing. 



Teddy Roosevelt once said 'I'm opposed to the land-sklnner every time". Your 



bill fully embodies the attitudes and arrogance of the land-skinners and robber 

 barons, who would love to own their own private chunk of the Tongass. 



One of the worst parts of your bill Is that there is no prohibition or limitation against the 

 sale of lands in the Tongass to the highest bidder. Thanks to Slate Senator Robin 

 Taylor, weVe confirmed the real intent of your bill. This bill is not about a simple 

 transfer of the Tongass to the State of Alaska — - the real goal is to turn these public 

 lands over to private hands . In a letter written to a Montana State Senator, Senator 

 Taylor declared his goal for state management of the Tongass. He wrote, 'Hopefully, a 

 large portion of this acreage will eventually be conveyed to the private sector." This one 

 sentence makes the goal of your legislation perfectly clear. Senator Taylor will be a 

 leadi ng player on how the State of Alaska makes decisions about these public lands if the 

 Slate ever gets them. If you and Senator Taylor gel your way, these lands which have 

 always been open for public hunting and fishing will be sold off, covered with "no 

 trespassing" signs, clearcul, dug-up, and locked away from the public. 



We hope all of America is watching this bill because it would set an unbelievable 

 precedent which would destroy our public lands system, from sea to shining sea. 



