California spotted owl in virtually the same area. We are prohib- 

 ited from cutting any timber with a trunk diameter of more than 

 30 inches. The interim plan probably will be in effect for another 

 year, and the details have not been completely worked out, but this 

 area is being impacted by a number of Government decisions. This 

 would simply be one more added, and I want to underscore the fact 

 that in no way would it enhance the protection of the giant se- 

 quoia. It would put into legislation the vision. 



Mr. Chairman, I, too, want you to listen to testimony following 

 ours because they will be experts, and what they will tell you is 

 that the science of managing our resources is an evolving one. 

 What we thought was proper and appropriate a generation ago we 

 now find not only is perhaps not proper and appropriate but in fact 

 damaging to the very thing that we tried to preserve. 



I believe the structure that we currently have is one which al- 

 lows for this evolving science. I hope that by the end of the day, 

 you will find yourself in agreement with my assessment that this 

 bill is totally unnecessary because it offers no measurable enhance- 

 ment of protection for the giant sequoias. 



The process that has resulted in the current arrangement is a 

 positive one. It is one which will result in a science that will pro- 

 tect the sequoias. And, more importantly, Mr. Chairman, it rein- 

 forces the belief in the fact that the way you resolve problems is 

 to sit down and work with each other. 



Thank you very much. 



[The prepared statement of Mr. Thomas of California appears at 

 the conclusion of the hearing.] 



Mr. Rose. Thank you, Mr. Thomas. 



Our next panelist is the Honorable Richard Lehman, Member of 

 Congress from the State of California. 



STATEMENT OF HON. RICHARD H. LEHMAN, A REPRESENTA- 

 TIVE IN CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA 



Mr. Lehman. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman, and I appre- 

 ciate your holding this hearing today, and I am grateful for the op- 

 portunity to testify before the subcommittee on a bill that is very 

 relevant to my district and, admittedly, to the State and to the Na- 

 tion, as well. 



My district, as was pointed out, includes portions of both the Si- 

 erra and Sequoia National Forests, the two forests that are in- 

 cluded in the Giant Sequoia National Forest Preserve that this bill 

 would create. 



At the outset, I want to thank the many interested people who 

 have traveled a great distance today to testify on this bill, as it is 

 going to affect their lives very greatly. 



I must begin by stating, however, that this is not really a hear- 

 ing about preserving giant sequoia. I think we can all agree that 

 giant sequoia are some of the most magnificent biological speci- 

 mens this Earth has to offer, and they should be protected. I am 

 one legislator who has personally carried legislation to protect 

 giant sequoia when I got property transferred from the Stanislaus 

 National Forest to Mountain Home State Park in Califomia a cou- 

 ple of years ago. 



