251 



education and experience of its members to identify the costs and 

 benefits of various land-management alternatives. For these 

 reasons the Alaska SAF recommends that Congress take no further 

 action on Tongass legislation until completion of the revised 

 Tongass Land Management Plan, which is scheduled for completion 

 by December of this year. 



The Alaska SAF, as well as our parent National Society, has 

 recommended that the Forest Service develop specific landmanage- 

 ment planning alternatives independent of existing Alaska Nation- 

 al Interest Lands Conservation Act 1980 criteria. This allows 

 the land-use planning process to work more effectively by 

 enabling the Forest Service to look beyond the current program 

 and land-use mandates set by Congress. 



The Tongass Land Management Plan Revision will provide Congress 

 with improved information regarding the resource capabilities of 

 the Tongass National Forest. Through this process it is possible 

 to assure a balanced approach to the management of the Tongass 

 and to maintain the community stability of southeast Alaska. 



The Alaska SAF believes the existing land-management planning 

 process is the most appropriate vehicle for making changes in 

 special provisions for the Tongass. We are especially concerned 

 that any legislation that interferes with this process would have 

 negative implications for professional land management throughout 



TK:705 - 2 - 



22-148 0-89-9 



