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SOUTHEAST CONFERENCE 



P O Box 2228b 



Juneau Alaska 99802 

 February 21 , 1989 



To Whom It May Concern: 



The Southeast Conference has worked long and hard to develop the 

 enclosed policy position regarding legislation and management of the 

 Tongass National Forest. This policy position is intended to close the 

 argument and stop further erosion of the economy of Southeast Alaska. 

 It is not intended to diminish the role of the timber industry or any 

 ether industry in our effort to build a stable diversified economy. 



This position has been developed with input from communities of 

 Southeast Alaska and provides a balanced resolution that is intended to 

 ensure continued employment, and opportunities in timber, fisheries, 

 tourism, recreation, mining, and subsistence. The policy was developed 

 with a focus on the families in Southeast Alaska. Although concerns of 

 special interests were taken into ccrsiderat ion , and frequently 

 paralleled that of communities, they were not (and cannot be) the 

 prinary focus. 



This policy IS intended to accomplish the following: 



Clarify the mission of the National Forest Service in the Tongass 

 to include an allowable harvest of up to 4.5 billion board feet per 

 decade depending on market conditions and subiect to multiple use 

 values cf the Tongass Forest. (Maintain existing :cts m the forest 

 while protecting fish and wildlife and their habitat.' 



Es^atlish a specific intensive management fund to ensure that the 

 Forest Service is able to make marginal timber star.ds viable sales 

 for the industry and sustain other values. 



- Set aside 12 areas for protection due to the high values of fish 

 and wildlife production in those areas. 



- Provide for land trades, exchanges, or purchases of non- 

 wilderness lands to increase the timber base for the allowable 

 harvest level (to include potential use of harvested land). 



- Establish an economic diversification fund of grants and loans to 

 provide opportunities to strengthen the Southeast economy. 



Southeast Alaskans, like most Americans, know it is possible with 

 ingenuity, hard work, and dedication to have sound economic development 

 while protecting our quality of life. We need not settle for less! 



We are not professional drafters of federal legislation and therefore 

 ask indulgence for our presentation. We are available to work with 

 interested parties to clarify our policy. We respectfully offer our 

 position paper to Alaskans, the U.S. Congress, and the American people 

 as a fair and reasonable resolution to the conflict in the Tongass. 



Respectfully Submitted, 



Wi 1 1 : am E . Privet t 



President, Southeast Conference 



"Working For All Alaska' 



