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stated In a letter to Senator Stevens: "The statement that the most 

 productive areas of the Tongass were included in the wilderness designations 

 is unfounded." Seventy-four percent (74%) of the 5.5 million acres of 

 officially designated Tongass wilderness is rock, ice, tundra, or scrub 

 timber. Ninety-one percent (91%) of the wilderness acreage is not suitable 

 for timber harvest. In fact, less than one and one-half percent (80,000 

 acres) of designated Tongass wilderness is considered to be commercially 

 important timber (over 30,000 board feet per acre) that meets the Forest 

 Service criteria for harvest. This hardly excludes logging from much of the 

 best forests. 



CONCLUSION 



The comprehensive reform package of S.346, the Tongass Timber 

 Reform Act, is imperative for the survival of the forest's old- growth trees, 

 fish, and wildlife. It is also imperative for preserving the community 

 stability and way of life of the people of this region who depend on a living 

 old growth forest rather than clearcuts. Over and over, the Forest Service 

 has clearly shown itself incapable of making the changes necessary to bring 

 about enlightened management of the Tongass. The agency is unwilling to 

 unable to drag itself into the 1990s and reject its Tongass tree-farm 

 mentality. 



SEACC strongly supports S.346 and urges its swift passage. Ue 

 also support strengthening amendments to the bill to permanently protect the 

 23 critical fish and wildlife areas currently listed in the bill. Thank you 

 for this opportunity to testify before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources 

 Committee. 



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