217 



Alaska p.o,Box22«27 



-:^-> J.A^ Wilderness June«o,AK 99802 



; ^^Li 1^ Recreation & *»»«»• (WD4«^3<«8 



Association Ejfflai.wrU(g«l««WnH 



Honorable Tooy Koowlet April 16, 1996 



Dear Oov«ntor Knowlea, 



The Alaska Wildemess Reaeatkm and Touram Associatioii ( AWRTA) stroogty opposet 



Miy >Tt>ncw«i r,e tdtrhOmn Piilp Crjrprwitinn'K (KPT) rimhw cnntfart nntil h^OT! fliwi in 



Tongass Forest timber manageiDcnt are addressed. BxtB»fiiix Qk contact before iheae 

 issues are resolved would oot be ID tbe best intorests of either &e toudsm indasiTy or the 

 cofmmmities of Southeast Alaska. 



Tbe recent history of ToQ^ass Foreat nuoiageaieat ttodcT the mODOpoly oootracts provides 

 abaodantieasoa to reject exteoaioo of the KPCoootract Tbne ooolracti hM« forced the 

 I^>re3t Service to Igiiore ngiaficaM famacts to toiirisiii, recieatioiial hoitiiig and fiah^ 

 Eubaistence. imd indepcsodeot logger; that are cle«]y identified in tbeDnplaiis and 

 enviiomi^ntal tmp*ct statements. As you know, tUs has forced AWRTA and other users 

 of the Toogass into court to get the Forest Service to cootider our inletests. 



Tourism is tiw ftatMi eowiBg iadDitiy in Southeast Alnfat & divertlfiea the eoooomiea of 

 r a w i i ir uM ii tiBs in tibe lepoa, and hat tbe potential for qgwHw-M* growth Al Alaska tourism 

 is essenti ally natute based, rkpendine 00 sMoic beaaty, djimdant wildlife, and wQd places 

 to satisfy our visitcn. Howeva.wiuout a long-term plan for tominn in the Toogass. our 

 members have no asuiraoces that the areas diey use tor their bosincssos wiO not be logged 

 and their busfaicsspUm ditsnqKed. 



The Tcogass Laiid Maitageiiieiit Flan leviaiOD is the obvious piaoe to addttaa the iiee<b of 

 our industry and other osersoftiieTongassrdatrve to the needs of the timber indMiy. 

 We bdlievethitk should be completed, gcviog the public and bar bosiiietaea a chatkoe to ' 

 ^ec what the Potest Service says aboix iixpacis of alternatiYes, befcve an exiatHion of the 

 KPC contract is considered. ItsbooldinciDderBliabfedatatiboatanEabcectotsoftfie 

 tourism fautaistty and their treads in the Toogass, analyze the fanpacia of loggmg on tite* 

 whh nature tourism potential, and analyze the comparative beotfits and costs of logging 

 veiTus protecting aie^ for tourism. 



Until these questions are resolved extension of the 183*C coatran would only continue, and 

 exacerbate, unwise and unsustainable land management policies. ' Please oppose extension 

 <^ the contract. 



Sincerely. 



Steven Behnke 

 Executive [&ector 



