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TESTIMONY OF ERIC S. LASCHEVER 



Before the 



SENATE SUBCOMMITTEE ON PUBLIC LANDS, 



NATIONAL PARKS AND FORESTS 



February 28, 198 9 



Mr. Chairman, members of the Subcommittee, my name is Eric 

 Laschever. I am the Special Assistant for the Tongass 

 National Forest to Alaska Governor Steve Cowper, and I will 

 present the views of the State of Alaska regarding S.346. 



The Federal Government has had a longstanding commitment to 

 economic diversification and community stability in 

 southeast Alaska. The establishment and maintenance of a 

 timber industry based upon the trees of the Tongass National 

 Forest is a reflection of this commitment. This policy is 

 manifested by such actions as the signing of long-term 

 timber sale contracts and adoption of Section 705 of the 

 Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act. 



The designation of portions of the Tongass as wilderness 

 also reflects the government's recognition of the 

 exceptional wildland values of the forest, including both 

 economic and non-economic uses. 



Since the 1970 's. Congressional deliberations on management 

 of the Tongass have reflected a difficult search for a 

 policy which would allow no one use or set of values to 

 dominate the planning for, or management of, the forest. 

 Today, you will hear some speakers argue that the long-term 

 contracts and certain provisions of ANILCA have elevated the 

 timber industry to a position of pre-eminence as a user of 

 the forest. Others will argue that the designation of 

 wilderness has elevated the retention of wildland values and 

 non-consumptive use above that of the timber industry. 

 Viewed in this context, S.346 is yet another attempt to 

 strike an elusive balance. 



In this regard, the State of Alaska believes that S.346 has 

 unfortunately failed to attain the goal of evenhanded 

 management because it creates uncertainty and potentially 

 disrupts the dependent timber industry. However, the State 

 believes that progress toward this goal is possible. 

 Substantial efforts to reach a compromise have been underway 

 since last year. Senator Stevens and Senator Murkowski have 

 introduced legislation which relect their desire to address 

 concerns which have been raised. The State believes that if 

 there is to be legislation which addresses the Tongass, it 

 should be based upon processes which have reconciled 

 divergent views within the State. 



