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The cut-stock mill chops clear blocks of wood from lumber that is of lesser grade. 

 This operation provides a value-added product that will be used for fingerjointing and 

 products like window and door frames. 



Sierra Forest Products, like all mills on the west coast, has experienced the 

 consequences of the artificial shortage of timber being removed from the National Forest. 

 Historically we have been dependent on the National Forests for 95% of our log supply. 



When our mill was built in 1968, there were 3 other mills in the area. We are now 

 the sole survivor. The Sequoia National Forest annually grows about 135 million board feet 

 of timber. We have seen the harvest levels reduced over the years from about 100 million 

 board feet to a predicted harvest of 26 million this year. 



Last year we were forced to reduce our production from a two shift operation to one 

 shift. This resulted in the lay-off of 60 people. This may sound insignificant in Washington 

 D.C., but believe me, it was traumatic to the families involved. I believe the saddest and the 

 most difficult time in my career has been experiencing the loss to these people. 



The demand for wood products is increasing throughout he United States. This 

 demand is not going to change. The tremendous increase in lumber prices and the 

 additional cost in home construction the nation has experienced in the last two years will 

 continue at an escalating rate imless adequate timber supplies are available. 



If the National Forests, who contain some of the most productive and well managed 

 timber lands in the world are not available, other areas in the world will be. We are 

 presently importing Radiata Pine Logs by ship from New Zealand in an effort to keep our 

 company alive. The fact that we are forced to go overseas, while not effectively managing 

 our own forests, saddens me. 



If this bill passes, we will be legislated out of business. But, more importantly. The 

 Sequoia National Forest will be out of business as effective natural resource managers. 



The Sierra Nevada Ecosystem Study is currently imderway involving extensive 

 scientific research throughout the entire range. This study was authorized in the 1993 

 Appropriations Act with a cost of $7 million over the next two-and-one-half years. H.R. 

 2153 proposes to remove 442,000 acres without the benefit of this scientific study. There 

 should be no land withdrawals on any of the national forests until this study is completed 

 and the results subjected to scientific peer review. 



The basis of this bill lacks quantitative scientific review, economic review and a lack 

 of perspective into it's social impacts. 



I truly believe that a balance can be found in all natural resource management 

 decisions. The Mediated Agreement is a balance, a good balance for the Sequoia National 



