51 



In 1973, following the first attempts to implement basic environ- 

 mental impact statement requirements, C.L. Cloudy of Alaska 

 Loggers Association warned that the requirements would cause 

 complete pulp mill shutdowns and shutdowns of the remaining 

 sawmills in Southeastern Alaska. That was Ketchikan Daily News, 

 April 19, 1973. 



On May 4, 1976 the Ketchikan Daily News headline screamed 

 KPC will close July 1, 1977. But as the paper explained the next 

 day, the announcement wasn't news, it was part of a publicity 

 stunt. The paper then criticized the pulp mill for issuing false 

 alarms one week before EPA pollution hearings and shortly before 

 employee negotiations were due to start. One editorial concluded 

 Ketchikan Pulp Company is crying wolf and playing with the faith 

 of thousands of people. God help it. That was Ketchikan Daily 

 News, May 5, 1976. 



During the 1983 EPA hearings, officials from KPC said the cost 

 of installing water pollution control equipment would force them to 

 shut down. KPC said it would consider both legal recourse and mill 

 closure if the variance requests were denied. That was Southeast- 

 ern Log, December 1983. 



In 1984, KPC's comptroller, later president Martin Pihl, claimed 

 that if Forest Service didn't reduce the price of timber and allow 

 larger clearcuts, we are all going to pack up and leave. That was 

 reported in the Juneau Empire,March 29, 1984. 



In 1992, EPA proposed tighter pollution controls for KPC's pulp 

 mill. KPC's president, Martin Pihl, claimed the new pollution con- 

 trols would seriously threaten the survival of the mill or any pulp 

 mill anywhere. That is Ketchikan Daily News, April 17, '92. 



On March 12, 1996, Ketchikan Daily News reported KPC would 

 close its sawmills in Ketchikan and Metlakatla from late March 

 until after Memorial Day because of a shortage of timber. In the 

 same article, the Ketchikan area forest supervisor expressed his 

 personal opinion that the current shutdown had more to do with 

 market conditions than supply of logs. 



Ketchikan Pulp Company has a track record of not being a good 

 corporate citizen. Their latest effort and threats to get a 15-year ex- 

 tension or else they will shut down and leave town, this is the lat- 

 est in a long line of abusive actions on KPC's part. And the exten- 

 sion of KPC's monopoly would continue the chronic environmental 

 problems in my home area and prohibit any real possibility of hav- 

 ing a viable secondary processing and manufacturing of finished 

 wood products, which could be sustainable over the long run. It 

 would also result in the heavy-handed clearcutting of important 

 hunting and fishing areas that I depend on, like the Cleveland Pe- 

 ninsula. 



In closing, I strongly oppose your legislation. 



The Chairman. Thank you, Wayne, for keeping within the five 

 minutes. Mr. Cohen, you are next. 



STATEMENT OF GERSHON COHEN, ALASKA CLEAN WATER 

 ALLLANCE, HAINES, ALASKA 



Mr. Cohen. My name is Gershon Cohen. I am the Executive Di- 

 rector of the Alaska Clean Water Alliance. The Alaska Clean Water 

 Alliance is a statewide nonprofit organization dedicated to the con- 



