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In our written submissions we put forth a 15-part approach to 

 the management of the Tongass. While we would like to believe 

 that Congress will be able to address all of these, we are realistic. 

 We hope that many of the proposals can get serious legislative con- 

 sideration and be included in the final Congress reformat. 



I will highlight our position on subjects of greatest interest. Im- 

 mediate termination of the long-term timber contracts is simply 

 too risky, and we oppose it. We support a serious renegotiation of 

 the contracts with parameters akin to those of H.R. 1516. Modifica- 

 tion of the contracts are essential if our region is to have a healthy 

 economy. 



As to Tongass harvest levels, we support the position of the 

 Southeast Conference in principle. The timber industry should be 

 dynamic, and the amount of timber made available should be up to 

 4.5 billion feet per decade with annual variation being based upon 

 market factors. 



An intensive management fund is necessary to allow independ- 

 ent purchasers an opportunity to enter the timber industry success- 

 fully. The annual expenditure of between $15 and $18 million 

 should do the job if utilized correctly. 



Utilization of forest resources should be market driven, too, and 

 planning and management, fisheries, tourism, mineral subsistence 

 and conservation concerns should be accorded priorities compara- 

 ble to timber production. 



Finally, a mineral deposit of world class proportion may exist 

 under Brady Glacier in a fringe area of Glacier Bay National Park. 

 Potentially it contains large quantities of strategic metals, the vast 

 proportion of which our country imports from politically unstable 

 nations. There is a patented claim at stake and private property 

 rights. 



If developed, this project could produce thousands of jobs in our 

 region and serve the national interest. 



At this juncture we request only an amendment to sections 1501 

 and 1502 of ANILCA to allow the administration to study the po- 

 tential of this claim to see where it fits in the future of southeast 

 and to report back to Congress. 



Before concluding our presentation, we want to turn this subcom- 

 mittee's attention to a different aspect of the Tongass issue. Con- 

 gress is hearing from various southeast Alaska interest groups, 

 each expressing its views as to what is best for southeast Alaska 

 and what the people of southeast Alaska really want. 



Sorting out these conflicting opinions is a nearly impossible task. 

 To assist the efforts of Congress to formulate sound public policy 

 on Tongass timber reform, Sealaska undertook an impartial survey 

 of the attitudes of the people of southeast Alaska on the Tongass 

 timber reform legislation and the future of the Tongass. We re- 

 tained a public opinion research firm named Decision Sciences, In- 

 corporated to conduct an attitude survey. 



Decision Sciences conducted over 500 telephone interviews last 

 week. It used a scientifically designed random sample and strict 

 quality control measures were taken at all stages of the project in- 

 cluding pretesting, callbacks and interviewer verification. 



The questionnaire for the survey was developed after consulta- 

 tion with representatives of the interest groups who are the most 



