57 



sion, it should seriously consider immediately terminating the cur- 

 rent 50-year contract. 



The future of the Tongass National Forest is of national impor- 

 tance. All Americans have a stake in its sound management. This 

 national treasure, established in 1907 by President Teddy Roo- 

 sevelt, contains some of the last expanses of pristine temperate 

 rainforest in North America. As you know, the Tongass is home to 

 the world's largest concentration of grizzly bears, bald eagles, and 

 Sitka black-tailed deer. The Tongass is our nation's largest, wettest 

 and wildest national forest. 



As some have stated here today, KPC has demonstrated little re- 

 spect for the environment in Southeast Alaska. The Environmental 

 Protection Agency's 1991 and 1992 Toxic Release Inventory Report 

 ranked the Ketchikan Pulp mill as the number one toxic water pol- 

 luter in the entire Pacific Northwest. KPC has chronically violated 

 State and Federal environmental laws, and is violating these laws 

 today. 



H.R. 3659 is of great concern to every American taxpayer. Over 

 the past few decades, Tongass clearcutting has cost the American 

 taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars in subsidies. Extending 

 KPC's monopoly contract for 15 years could dramatically increase 

 the amount of taxpayer money being spent to subsidize the 

 clearcutting of this national treasure. 



KPC's dismal environmental record and the cost to the American 

 taxpayers are reasons enough to oppose H.R. 3659, however, the 

 Alaska Wilderness League is most deeply concerned with the per- 

 manent loss of some magnificent, truly wild areas that would be 

 sacrificed by fulfilling the existing KPC contract and by the pos- 

 sible extension by virtue of this bill. Several of these unprotected 

 areas were designated as wilderness in the yersion of the Tongass 

 Timber Reform Act which passed the House of Representatives in 

 1989. These areas will be clearcut either during the remainder of 

 the KPC 50-year contract or during the proposed 15-year extension. 



Ketchikan Pulp Company's bulldozers and chainsaws directly 

 threaten the following areas. These special places deserve to be 

 permanently protected. They include the Cleveland Peninsula, 

 which supports highly productive populations of deer, brown bear, 

 mountain goats and other wildlife. It is a favorite area for Ketch- 

 ikan hunters and recreational users. 



East Kuiu, an area important to wilderness tourism operators as 

 well as the communities of Kake, Point Baker, and Port Protection. 



Honker Divide, this critical wildlife area is the largest block of 

 old-growth left on North Prince of Wales Island. Its canoe route of- 

 fers spectacular recreational opportunities and is important to 

 hunting and sport fishermen. 



Port Houghton, this bay located on the mainland north of Peters- 

 burg is of great importance to local commercial fishermen. One of 

 its drainages, Sanborn Creek, produces large amounts of pink 

 salmon. The undeveloped character of this area is essential to the 

 livelihoods of local tourism operators. 



Ushk Bay, Deep Bay and Poison Cove, these bays contain impor- 

 tant brown bear habitat and are visible to ferry travelers in Peril 

 Strait. They are important to local hunters and recreational users. 



