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THE TONGASS NATIONAL FOREST, UNDER THE NATIONAL FOREST MANAGEMENT 

 ACT, WAS THE FIRST AREA IN THE SYSTEM TO IMPLEMENT A LAND MANAGEMENT 

 PLAN. THE PLAN WAS CLOSELY REVIEWED BY CONGRESS PRIOR TO THE PASSAGE 

 OF ANILCA. 



THE PLAN CLEARLY DOCUMENTS THAT ADDED INVESTMENTS OF TONGASS 

 TIMBER SUPPLY FUNDS WERE INCREASED COSTS THAT WOULD NOT BE OFFSET BY 

 INCREASED RECEIPTS TO THE TREASURY. 



TODAY, THE TONGASS LAND MANAGEMENT PLAN IS SCHEDULED FOR REVISION. 

 THE FOREST SERVICE HAS ALREADY SPENT APPROXIMATELY 5 MILLION DOLLARS 

 TOWARD THIS ENDEAVOR, AND A FIRST DRAFT IS DUE THIS DECEMBER. 



THIS COMMITTEE SHOULD NOT RUSH TO JUDGEMENT ON LAND ALLOCATIONS IN 

 THE TONGASS WHEN A FEDERAL AGENCY HAS ALREADY BEEN CHARGED WITH THE 

 RESPONSIBILITY TO SORT OUT THE CONFLICTING CLAIMS TO THE RESOURCES. 

 THIS PROCESS IS THE APPROPRIATE WAY TO IDENTIFY NECESSARY CHANGES TO 

 THE SPECIAL TONGASS PROVISIONS. 



I AM VERY CONCERNED WITH THE NEGATIVE PRECEDENT THAT CONGRESSIONAL 

 INTERVENTION AT THIS TIME WOULD SET FOR LAND MANAGEMENT PLANNING ON THE 

 REMAINING 155 NATIONAL FORESTS. 



