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In fact, we have been working intensely to revise the Tongass 

 Land Management Plan and continue to involve the public, our 

 partners in State Government, and Federal agencies to assure that 

 the needs of the people of the Tongass and the United States are 

 met in our plan. Public meetings in 32 communities in Southeast 

 Alaska, which began May 20, have been completed. Meetings were 

 also held in Anchorage, Ak, (June 11) and Washington, D.C. (June 

 13). Over 400 individuals have given oral testimony and some 

 1,000 comments have been received in recent months. These 

 comments are in addition to over 10,000 comments already on file 

 from previous public reviews. 



Closing 



In closing, let me reiterate that we are proud of the 130 years 

 of public ownership of these lands by the people of the United 

 States and more than 90 years of resource stewardship by the 

 Forest Service and the relationships that we have built with our 

 neighbors and our partners, our customers, and our owners. We 

 are proud, too, of our accomplishments for the people of Alaska 

 and the resources of the nation. 



The Forest Service has managed and will continue to manage the 

 Tongass with public input, scientific and economic analysis, and 

 sustainable natural resource practices, while complying with the 

 law. We recognize that improvements can be made in our 



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