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SEALASKA CORPORATION POSITION PAPER 

 ON TONGASS REFORM ACT LEGISLATION 

 BEING CONSIDERED BY THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS 



JANUARY 26, 1989 



The Congress of the United States over the last two 

 years has been considering legislation entitled the Tongass 

 Reform Act. This legislation has focused upon the federally 

 dependent timber industry particularly the Long Term 

 Contracts of Alaska Pulp Company and Ketchikan Pulp Company 

 and their harvest practices. Attention has also been given 

 to the ANILCA 705(a) provision which established a 4.5 

 billion board feet per decade timber supply and an off 

 budget unappropriated $40 million per year to access 

 marginal timber and for other purposes. The legislation 

 also gives consideration to designating additional 

 conservation areas in the Tongass Forest. Sealaska 

 Corporation and other Native entities within the region, 

 for the most part, have not actively participated in the 

 formulation of the legislation. Sealaska Corporation has 

 participated however in meetings involving key interests 

 hoping to facilitate communication and understanding. The 

 legislation is again before the Congress with the potential 

 of additional features being advanced which could threaten 

 employment, the regional economy and community stability 

 within Southeastern Alaska. 



