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II. UNDERLYING INTERESTS/OBJECTIVES OF SOUTHEAST ALASKAN COMMUNITIES 



Followina 13 the Southeast Conference policy position on Tongass 

 National Forest Legislation and Management. We propose that this 

 position be used for the development of reasonable legislation and 

 Tongass land management practices that are sensitive to the people 

 whose lives are physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually 

 interwoven with the Tongass. 



A. Objectives reflecting the underlying interests of the Southeast 

 Communi t ies: 



1) To maintain the employment within the Southeast Timber 

 industry including providing for diversification (perhaps 

 Federal-State assistance for retooling and small mills, etc.). 



2) To maintain employment within the fisheries Industry including 

 State and Federal efforts to provide for research, protection', 

 and mitigation for anadromous streams. 



3) To maintain employment within the mining Industry and to 

 recognize the unique mining opportunities that benefit 

 communities. 



4) To maintain employment within the tourism industry including 

 sensitivity to respective communities' unique tourism 

 opportunities (e.g. RVs, parks, docks, and highly visible 

 areas) , and dispersal of Pacific Rim and other Independent 

 travelers . 



5) To have Congress recognize and provide for respective 

 communities' social, personal, and cultural uses. 



6) To have Congress recognize that all of these uses are important 

 to the people of Southeast and that these uses, the people, and 

 the management of the Tongass are interrelated and mutually 

 support ive . 



7) To have Congress recognize the respective communities' interest 

 in protecting specific areas from commercial harvest. 



8) To have Congress recognize that the timber industry needs 

 access to "appropriate and productive" stands to maintain 

 a viable industry and timber employment. 



9) To insure that Southeast Alaskans have a voice "at the table" 

 in any and all discussions and decisions regarding the Tongass 

 legislation. (This includes congressional hearings: and if a 

 hearing is held in Alaska, it should be held in Sitka.) 



10) To maintain a stable and diversified economy throughout 

 Southeast . 



11) To maintain at least the current level of federal commitment to 

 the economy of Southeast Alaska and to provide opportunities 

 for diversification, particularly for those that may be 

 disenfranchised by legislation. 



12) To separate Tongass legislation from other political issues or 

 leaislation. 



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