283 



Thar* is naarly uniwarsal racognition of a high liKalihood of disastarous 

 firas in soaa parts of Sequoia National Forest today, particularly in the 

 ■iiiad conifer zone. One cause of this situation is the build up of high 

 levels of dense vegetation and dead fuels as a result of ovar-zealous fire 

 suppression in the past. Ne have also seen isany logged over areas near 

 our hoBe with a dense growth of brush in between densly planted pine 

 trees, both alive and dead, an obvious and real fire hazard. Me have alao 

 seen partially logged areas that have grown bacK in heavy brush, leaving a 

 fire hazard greater than before the logging. Oaapite this situation there 

 is presently no forest-wide foratal fire management plan in existance on 

 Sequoia National Forest. We are simply told that if there is no 

 industrial scale logging commercial on the forest there will be terrible 

 fires . 



The implementation of this bill, we believe, will help alleviate the 

 existing fire danger, benefiting the forest ecosystem as well as 

 protecting private property. A wisely planned fire management plan can go 

 a long way toward restoring the forest from decades of neglect and 

 missMnagement . 



There has been considerable misraprasantation of what this bill proposes 

 other than fire managasMnt. Ma believe much of the local opposition has 

 come from alarmist reaction to these ■israpraeentat ions . In this regard 

 we have the following comments: 



Nothing whatsoever in this bill would have the effect of changing the 

 content of contracts between present recreation cabin leases or private 

 group camps. The only activities prohibited by this bill are new road 

 building, commercial tiartiar harvest, off road vehicle travel and 

 eventually cattle grazing. 



The bill will have no effect whatsoever on the use of private property in 

 the preserve. The bill changes land use only within the preserve itself. 



Employment in the local timber industry is a tiny part of total local 

 amploysrant, and any loss of employment will be made up in part or entirely 

 by employment in restoration of the forest and improvement in the quality 

 of the recreation experience, attracting more visitors to the area. 

 Statements to the effect that this bill will cause major economic 

 'devastation' is meaningless rhetoric. 



The aradiated settlement agraearant is a temporary, secretly negotiated 

 'deal' that allows the timber dominated management on the Sequoia to 

 continue for at least the next 10 years. 



■e can only hope that you and other members of the BubcosMeit tee on 

 Specialty Crops and Natural Resources will take the time and effort to 

 carefully read and analyze HR-21S3, along with all of the arguements for 

 and against it. If you do so we ara confident that it will become law of 

 the land. 



Sincerely, 



Sxncerely , 



Ray /West Marilyn West 



HCR-2, Box 4B3 

 Epringville, Ca 93265 



CC : MeartierE of subcoaaiittee 



