46 



area is narrow, and 45 days may not be as bad as it was. But we 

 continue to narrow the window of operating opportunity. 



Mr. Vento. Well, clearly, some of the examples here today are 

 some of the more egregious, more serious problems. And so they 

 are trying to — you know, there are literally thousands of timber 

 sales a year. This year so far there have been 86 appeals filed on 

 what are literally — now, of course, I understand that many of the 

 appeals are barred under the salvage, as our witness from Mon- 

 tana indicated, on the forest that he was referring to. 



You know, most of the sales there have been under salvage so 

 there is no appeal. That solves the problem. That represents a big 

 problem for me because this appeal process, which has been 

 around, simply isn't something necessarily for the mischievous. It 

 may have evolved that way. I know that many on this panel feel 

 that that is the case. I did read all of the testimony. 



But it is something in terms of an accountability issue here in 

 terms of holding the Forest Service accountable. You, obviously, 

 feel that that — if this isn't appropriate, I would just suggest then 

 what is appropriate, and what is the appropriate format in terms 

 of holding the Forest Service and others accountable when they 

 make the sale? Possibly, this began as a question of whether it was 

 a fair price. It has, obviously, evolved into a much different direc- 

 tion today than that. 



So I won't continue, Mr. Chairman. My time has expired, but I 

 just wanted to add in the point — I mean, the number of appeals in 

 some of the regions today are down because of that, but that, I 

 don't think, is the ultimate answer in terms of where we are going. 

 I think it is an overreaction, and I think it, obviously, could have 

 a reaction. 



But I think the end result is that they are doing — there are only 

 160 appeals. They have some from last year. I noted in my mate- 

 rial here that we have something like 115 pending right now, and 

 only a small number of those are still from last year. So they are 

 moving through this, but I think the solution that has really been 

 causing this isn't the proper one. So I just wanted to State that. 

 There is no need for a response, Mr. Chairman. 



Mr. Hansen. Thank you, Mr. Vento. Let me just quickly point 

 out on the 45 days, that is the appeal filing period, plus the Forest 

 Service has 45 days to make a decision. Add those two together, 

 and you have got three months on your hands. So I just make an- 

 other little technicality we always work with around here. Let me 

 stand in recess. We will look forward to seeing you as soon as these 

 votes are over. 



[Recess.] 



Mr. Hansen. The meeting will come to order. I apologize to the 

 witnesses and the audience back here. When that thing goes off, 

 that is what they pay us to do, and we just have to run. And I al- 

 ways admire the patience that you have when you come to these 

 things, but let me tell you how valuable your input is. And if we 

 can't get input from people all over America, we are sure not doing 

 our job. 



I think Mr. Pombo and maybe one other will be with us, but I 

 will start out if that is OK while we are waiting for them. Jim 

 Matson, you heard and mentioned in your testimony this letter 



