64 



CITY OF WRANGELL, ALAS 



^^ Certified a true and correct 

 copy of the original llied 

 if) my office. 



TESTIMONY OF FERN NEIMEYER 

 MAYOR OF WRANGELL, ALASKA . <.  . ( ._/, - //. 

 APRIL 24, 1989 • • 1 -. - 



City Clerk _. ,. ^y 

 City of Wrangell - / 



UNITED STATES SENATE """ 



ENERGY AND PUBLIC LANDS SUBCOMMITTEE HEARING 

 KETCHIKAN, ALASKA 



MY NAME IS FERN NEIMEYER, I AM THE MAYOR OF WRANGELL, ALASKA. 



THE CITY OF WRANGELL (POPULATION 3,112) IS LOCATED ON THE 



NORTHERN TIP OF WRANGELL ISLAND IN THE HEART OF THE TONGASS 



NATIONAL FOREST. THERE ARE NO ROADS LEADING TO WRANGELL. OUR 



ONLY ACCESS TO THE OUTSIDE WORLD IS BY AIR OR WATER. 



I AM HERE TODAY AS THE SPOKESPERSON FOR THE PEOPLE OF WRANGELL 

 BECAUSE WE ARE ALL CONCERNED ABOUT THE FUTURE OF OUR TOWN. 

 OUR LIFESTYLE AND ECONOMIC BASE EVOLVES AROUND THE FISHING AND 

 TIMBER INDUSTRIES. WE WHO LIVE IN THE TONGASS NATIONAL FOREST 

 ARE VERY MUCH AWARE OF THE NATURAL BEAUTY OF OUR SURROUNDINGS AND 

 WE UNDERSTAND THE SENSITIVITY OF OUR ECOSYSTEM. TO US IT IS OUR 

 WAY OF LIFE. WE UNDERSTAND THAT IF WE ARE TO MAINTAIN OUR LIFE 

 STYLE AND PROVIDE A VIABLE FUTURE FOR OUR CHILDREN IT IS 

 ESSENTIAL THAT THE MANAGEMENT OF OUR NATURAL RESOURCES BE 

 IMPLEMENTED IN ^ PRUDENT MANNER. WE ARE COMMITTED TO THE WISE 

 USE OF THESE RESOURCES BECAUSE THEY REPRESENT OUR LIFE BLOOD. 



THE TONGASS TIMBER REFORM LEGISLATION PROPOSED BY SENATOR WIRTH 

 AND REPRESENTATIVE MRAZEK (SB345 & HB987) ARE VIEWED BY MY 

 CONSTITUENTS AS A SERIOUS THREAT TO OUR ECONOMIC FUTURE. THIS 

 LEGISLATION WOULD PLACE CONSTRAINTS UPON THE TIMBER INDUSTRY THAT 

 WOULD CAUSE IRREPARABLE DAMAGE TO THE ECONOMY OF OUR REGION AND 

 WOULD RESULT IN PERMANENT CLOSURE OF OUR SAW MILL. 



