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occurance. There is no room for true public particij)ation. Most public 

 meetings with the Forest Service consist of t|>e''public frustrately voicing 

 concerns, the USFS jotting them down then telling us that they must "get 

 out the cut " and fulfill the contract sales so there isn't any leeway for 

 change. USFS enviromental impact statements and enviromental assessments 

 consistently turn up the same findings: NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT. All the 

 while subsistance users, fishermen, and recreationalists can see that the 

 impacts of the long term sale plans with their gigantic cutting units are 

 destroying the forest. Over the years, each of the 23 areas has been 

 repeatedly brought to the attention of the USFS on the local level, by 

 the different user groups as crucially important to the welfare of our 

 non-timber industries and fish and wildlife resources. Now, as time is 

 closing in, we are asking Congress to protect these areas from being sense- 

 lessly destroyed by a one time deficet logging operation which will benefit 

 few and rob every American of one more wild place. 



Too long have the preferential terms of the 50 year contracts domin- 

 ated federal management policy in the Tongass. Too long have the wants of 

 LPK, and the Japanese owned APC been funded by the Tongass Timber Supply 

 Fund, promoting the currupt policy of private dominion over public lands. 

 The overriding emphasis on short term timber harvesting is wasting millions 

 of tax payer dollars and is hurting the self-sustaining fishing and tourist 

 industries. The Tongass is in need of change and S346 is a step in the right 

 direction. The current status quo is destroying the forest and only seri'ous 

 management reforms will correct the situation. 



The members of Alaska Women in Trees believe that the Tongass is a 

 raagnificant American legacy and its rare beauty should be preserved for 

 all generations thru the c reation of more wilderness areas and a new balanced 

 Forest Service directive. 



