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Tongass National Forest. In most respects, proponents of 

 Tongass reform legislation have as their real objective to 

 destroy the timber industry in Southeast Alaska which will have 

 drastic effect on the economic viability of the area. 



As to individual contracts, desired changes, if indeed 

 legitimate concerns exist, can and should be handled between 

 the parties. Such modifications have been made in the KPC 

 contract over the years as needs have arisen. We submit that 

 the history of KPC's performance under its contract indicates 

 the appropriateness of the bargaining table — not the halls of 

 Congress — as the proper forum to make necessary revisions, if 

 any, to the agreement between KPC and the federal government. 

 We do not believe issues concerning individual contracts should 

 be driving legislation which has far reaching impact on the 

 people and communities of Southeast Alaska. 



BACKGROUND 



The joint resolution of the House Interior and Agriculture 

 Committees adopted in 1947 which recommended and authorized the 

 Secretary of Agriculture to sell timber within the Tongass 

 National Forest clearly stated the intent, need, objectives and 

 the importance placed on establishing a timber industry in 

 Southeast Alaska in the following quotation from that 

 authorizing legislation: 



[I]t is believed that the prompt enactment 

 of this measure is of the utmost importance 



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