73 



I urge you to consider the fact that in 1980, industry and the pro- 

 wilderness groups made a deal that reduced areas available for 

 harvest and increased the areas to paddle their canoes. I find it 

 hard to understand why, several years later, they chose to ignore 

 that bargain and come back for more. Is it really your desire that I 

 lose my lifestyle and all I have done to better my standard of 

 living, or is it just because you have ruined your back yard and you 

 now want mine? 



The U.S. Forest Service will not allow rape and pillage on the 

 Tongass National Forest and I would suggest that they be allowed 

 to proceed with the Tongass Land Management Plan. 



I urge to you seriously consider the bill presented by Senators 

 Murkowski and Stevens. 



This is one of the facets of the multiple-use forest and I urge you 

 to remember that when you make your decision as to how I am 

 going to live. 



Thank you. 



Senator Wirth. The next witness, Mr. Cliff Taro. 



STATEMENT OF CLIFF TARO, PRESIDENT, SOUTHEAST 

 STEVEDORING CORP. 



Mr. Taro. I am Cliff Taro, President of the Southeast Stevedor- 

 ing Corporation. Our principal business is contracting to load 

 ocean-going ships with timber products going to worldwide destina- 

 tions. In this capacity we employ workers called longshoremen and 

 have some of the best in the world. We also furnish all of the gear, 

 equipment and supervision. 



I came to Ketchikan over 37 years ago and brought my wife and 

 two small children and now my son and son-in-law are vice presi- 

 dents of our Corporation. We started our business because there 

 was going to be a pulp mill constructed in Ketchikan with a 50- 

 year timber supply contract with the United States Forest Service. 



We have developed with the timber industry. We now operate in 

 some fifteen timber-related ports in Alaska. We employ on a daily 

 basis over 50 full-time people in our various operations. Should we 

 have vessels loading in all of our ports on the same day we can 

 employ over 500 workers. 



We have made efforts to diversify our business but everything re- 

 verts back to timber for good solid year-round employment. Fishing 

 is limited, tourism is a short season in Alaska. 



Some irresponsible, misinformed people seem to think that one 

 can survive in Alaska on tourism. This is wrong and we know it 

 because we are involved in it. 



We have taken the responsibility of representing the large cruise 

 ship operators as their Alaska Agents. In this capacity we are re- 

 sponsible for their operations and needs while in Alaskan ports and 

 waters, such as but not limited to, providing personnel in each port 

 to handle their requirements, marine pilots, pilot boats, tug boats, 

 customs and immigration services, ship stores, supplies and repairs, 

 medical services for crew and passengers, customs brokerage, line 

 handling, mail service and communications, personnel boats, fork- 

 lifts, garbage removal, baggage handling and so forth. 



