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4 



H.R. 2153 would further require the Secretary to establish a 

 community assistance task force; permit amy local community in 

 the region that is iitpacted by loss of Federal timber sales, 

 amd any worker who is displaced from a job in the timber 

 industry as a result of enactment of the bill to request 

 assistance from the task force; axid direct the task force to 

 encourage and develop enployment opportunities in forest 

 ecosystem restoration, recreation, and other forms of 

 employment compatible with the purposes and provisions of the 

 bill. 



Giamt sequoia trees are a national treasure, and the Forest 

 Service is fully committed to perpetuating the groves for 

 present amd future generations. Perpetuation of the groves is 

 the policy of the Forest Service as defined in the Regional 

 Forester's direction of 1991, Sequoia National Forest Mediated 

 Settlement Agreement of 1990, and the Presidential Proclaunation 

 of 1992. 



Under this existing policy, the Forest Service has withdrawn 

 the groves from the land base considered for timber production 

 and given perpetuation of the groves priority over all other 

 mauaagement considerations. We are currently mapping the groves 

 and will prepare management plans specific to each grove in 

 full consultation with Congress, the scientific community, 

 interest groups, and the public, to ensure that majiagement 

 proposals are scientifically sound and socially acceptaible. 



