93 



... our comments include both the larger questions of study design and 

 implemetiiation...." 



Because the negative impacts from logging do not become apparent for 5-10 yeais after 

 logging, and will not be fully expressed until a major storm event occure, no definitive 

 conclusions can be interpreted from only three years of data collected for this study. The 

 fact that the magnitude of habitat changes can not be detected now from applying Stale 

 standards does not support the conclusion that State standards do not have an adverse 

 impact on fish habitat and stream conditions. In fact, the recent completed Anadrooious 

 Fish Habitat Assessment (AFHA), which was prepared by more than 50 scientists, 

 resource specialists, and managers at the direction of Congress, found that "procedures 

 similar to those currently used to protect fish habitat on the Tongass ... failed to prevent 

 declines in fish habitat capability, and resulted in increasing and now significant risk to 

 the viability of salmon and steelhead stocks ...." Given that the AFHA report took a 

 comprehensive look at the adequacy of existing fish habitat protection measures 

 Tongass-wide, it far more authoritative an assessment than a selected sampling by a 

 consultant hired by timber companies. If .APHA found that the tougher Forest Service 

 standards were not adequate, how could anyone say that the State's standards for npanan 

 management on state and private lands are OK? 



H.R. 2413 Turns Back The Clock And Revives The Tongass 

 Timber Barons . 



• The bill requires the State to reinstate the 50 year monopoly timber contract 



with the Alaska Pulp Company. The Forest Service caiKcled this contract, 

 which gave Alaska Pulp a guaranteed supply of timber at bargain basement prices, 

 in 1994 because Alaska F^ilp materially breached its contract by closing its pulp 

 mill in Sitka. 



• Coupled with the bill your recently introduced, H.R. 3659, that would grant 



Ketchikan Pulp Company a new 23-year monopoly contract, this bill wouM 

 effectively gut the Tongass Timber Reform Act of 1990. Section 7(f) of H.R. 

 2413 repeals all statutory land protections contained in ANILCA and the TTRA. 

 H.R. 3659 eliminates the requirement that Ketchikan Pulp pay timber prices 

 comparable to those that independent operators on the Tongass have to pay and 

 guarantee a huge amount of timber to keep Ketchikan Pulp in business, at a profit.* 



Freedom. Rights. Control. And The Future; 



Lets talk about Freedom. Congressman Young, you and your bill are striking at the very 

 heart of the century-old, all-American concept of public forest lands. To many Alaskans 

 and to many Americans across this great country of ours, the concept of being an owner 

 of our public forest lands is one of our most strongly held freedoms. This is a freedom, 

 where Alaskans can pick a spot on the Tongass map, climb into a float plane or skiff and 

 go there. They can hunt, fish , hike, pick berries, watch wildlife, gather firewood. When 



■•Anachmcnt 7{SEACC Fact Sbeet on H.R. 3659). 



