209 



only one mill will be operating at historic rates. This is an econom- 

 ic fact of life and has no relationship to the log supply on the Ton- 

 gass National Forest. 



Out of the Tongass Timber Reform Act there will be sufficient 

 timber supplies to meet the demands into the foreseeable future. If 

 all protected lands are permanently set aside from the timber base, 

 the current allowable cut would only — I said now 450 would only 

 decline to about four hundred million board feet per year. This is 

 well above the average annual harvest of 316 million board feet 

 taken since 1977 and well above last year's harvest of 331. 



Thank you. 



Senator Wirth. Thank you very much, Mr. Mehrkens. 



[The prepared statement of Mr. Mehrkens follows:] 



