135 



which would be beneficial to the forest ecology if they are left where they 

 are, will not decrease the risk of fire, but may instead cause serious 

 environmental damage to important forest ecosystems. 



The Sierra Club only supports timber harvest in the Preserve that is done 

 to restore natural conditions. Many places in the Preserve are in quite poor 

 condition due to historic fire suppression, bad logging practices and other 

 mismanagement. These areas may require thinning, the removal of species that 

 are not naturally occurring, and so forth. We do not support any sales for 

 the purpose of commodity production within the Preserve. 



Also, as southern California's population continues to expand and demand 

 more recreational opportunities, Congressionally protected status for the 

 giant sequoias and their habitat has become even more important. Sequoia 

 National Park receives enormous visitation annually. Spreading out the 

 visitors to a larger area will enhance the visitor experience and also do less 

 damage to the giant sequoias themselves. 



The bill (sec. 7(1)) prohibits mining and geothermal exploration in the 

 Preserve. While uses such as recreation and limited scientific 

 experimentation are compatible with the bill's Intent, extractive activities 

 such as mining and geothermal exploration are not. With so few of these giant 

 sequoias remaining, and located as they are in such fragile and arid 

 ecosystems, any activities that might Impair their chances of survival and 

 dispersal must not be allowed. There is plenty of public land available in 

 California more suited to these pursuits. In addition. It should be noted 

 that the economic potential for mining and geothermal exploration within the 

 area would be negligible at best. 



The bill (sec. 8(g)) provides for assistance to help communities and 

 citizens affected by the Preserve's establishment. The bill establishes a 

 community assistance task force which will allow for grants and loans for 

 economic diversification, job training, counseling and placement of workers 

 who lose their jobs owing to the establishment of the Preserve. Though the 

 number of jobs that might be lost as a result of this bill becoming law Is 

 substantially smaller than the job loss that loggers are facing in the Pacific 

 Northwest and northern California, It is nonetheless critical that the workers 

 who may be displaced be helped through this transition. It Is never an easy 

 thing to advocate a position that will cost even one worker his or her 

 livelihood. Therefore, a crucial part of the bill provides for assistance for 

 the citizens and communities which would undergo this change. Sierra Club is 

 very supportive of this provision. 



The bill also provides (sec. 8 (a)) for yearly federal payments to local 

 political subdivisions for support of education and other purposes. This 

 provision of the bill is also of economic Importance to local communities that 

 might be affected by the Preserve's establishment. If county school and road 

 budgets are still tied to a national forest's timber receipts, this would be a 

 disincentive for that county to be in favor of a decreased timber harvest, 

 even if the cut is at an unsustainable level and will eventually result in 

 decreased revenues from tourism. With federal payments set up under this 

 bill, local governments will not suffer economic hardship from the proper 



