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feet of not only halting the stable flow of timber out of the forests, but have also 

 greatly contributed to the growing forest health problem. 



Mr. Chairman, one benefit we have seen from the emergency salvage legislation 

 that was passed last year has been the ability for the Forest Service to bypass their 

 administrative appeals process to implement emergency salvage sales. Not having 

 to spend countless hours on meaningless paperwork, the Forest Supervisors have 

 been able to commit their people and resources to preparing sites for salvage sales, 

 while at the same time taking on-site steps to protecting sensitive environmental 

 areas. Moreover, communities have been able to count on a dependable flow of tim- 

 ber coming from the Federal forests — giving them much needed relief We have also 

 seen that eliminating these appeals has not resulted in the bypassing of environ- 

 mental concerns because the Service has been able to directly exercise laws such 

 as NEPA, the Multiple-Use Sustained-Yield Act, and other Federal statutes which 

 have provisions dealing with environmental protections. 



In essence, Mr. Chairman, we need to take a long look at the appeals process as 

 it stands now. I think that we will find that in recent years that it nas had nothing 

 to do with the legitimate airing of concerns, but more to do with the blatant abuse 

 of process for the sole purpose of creating gridlock, not workable solutions in our 

 forests. I strongly believe that we as a Congress can take charge and change the 

 process. 



Mrs. Chenoweth. Mr. Unger, thank you for coming today. I do 

 want to say that I have studied and marked up your testimony, 

 even though I didn't get to hear you deliver it, and found it inter- 

 esting. I also find that you are testifying before Mr. Noel Williams, 

 Mr. Matt Bennett, Jim Matson, Nadine Bailey, and Jack Phelps. 



And, you know, I know from just serving in the work that I am 

 doing now that I often lose touch with the folks unless I directly 

 hear from them. I need to hear from them, not just my staff. And 

 I would just like to ask as a personal favor, even though I know 

 your schedule is very busy too, if you would mind waiting and lis- 

 tening to their testimony. 



Mr. Unger. I would be happy too. 



Mrs. Chenoweth. Thank you very much. I appreciate that. Last 

 year, in the Idaho Legislature, our State legislature passed some 

 legislation that authorized the State Land Board to go ahead and 

 work with the Forest Service or work around them to manage some 

 of the forests that were in distressed condition. 



And as you are painfully aware, the maturation of rate of the 

 trees is far exceeding our ability to harvest them, and you know 

 the result. You and I talked about it, and I have pounded on the 

 Forest Service about it. But it will be just a short time before that 

 concept reaches the Congress. I think that Senator Craig is looking 

 at something in the Senate. I will be looking at something in the 

 House. 



Would the Forest Service be willing to work with us to make 

 sure that you would work with States on critical and distressed 

 areas of forests where we need to? I mean, the debate is no longer 

 distressed families and distressed communities and a lifestyle and 

 a culture that is going out the window but for the health of the for- 

 ests. Would you be willing to work with us in 



Mr. Unger. We certainly share your concern with forest health. 

 It has been one of the issues that we think has been growing in 

 public understanding and support over the past few years. We have 

 been trying in our budget requests and in our work to fund addi- 

 tional fuels treatment and other work, use our salvage program 

 where it is appropriate to assist with this, and so forth. And we 

 will always be happy to respond to requests for cooperation with 

 Members of Congress. 



