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life populations are thriving and their habitat has a higher priority 

 than timber harvesting in the planning process. 



If any changes are needed to be made in the Tongass they should 

 be addressed in the Tongass Land Management Planning process. 

 Resource professionals should determine the proper balances in the 

 forest and it should not be the subject of legislation. 



I would like to close by telling Senator Burns we beat the seven 

 day week in the logging camp. [Applause.] 



Senator Wirth. Thank you Mr. Connelly. 



Senator Burns, I am assuming again that that was part of a beef 

 we had. 



Now Mr. Finney. 



STATEMENT OF BRAD FINNEY 



Mr. Finney. My name is Brad Finney and I am a lifetime resi- 

 dent of Alaska and in the audience are my two children who repre- 

 sent the fourth generation of my Alaskan lineage. 



My family and I utilize the Tongass Forest as our recreational 

 area. 



I am an avid hunter and camper and have covered more miles on 

 foot in the Alaska Wilderness than the good Senators covered 

 flying here from Washington. If I were to run into other people in 

 my travels I would be appalled and most certainly move on to find 

 a less impacted area. 



I feel fresh clearcuts are an eyesore and as a rule stay clear of 

 them. I love Alaskan solitude, old growth timber stands, shaded 

 streams and gentle rains. I live here because of these qualities; I do 

 not want to lose them. 



In my 33 years in Alaska I have been able to satisfy all these 

 desires on Prince of Wales Island amidst the most extensively 

 logged areas in southeast. 



When I was born there was seven miles of road on Prince of 

 Wales, now there are over 700 driveable miles. It is because of 

 these roads, this access into the wilderness, that I have always 

 found Prince of Wales so inviting and such a good source of recrea- 

 tion. 



I work for a heavy construction company which historically de- 

 rives 50 percent of its annual work from the timber contracts and 

 employs up to 300 people. 



If our Congress breaks the long-term contracts and breaks the 

 ANILCA Agreement, I would heartily support such legislation, I 

 would also support the subsequent subsidies to us not to log and 

 not to build roads. A few hundred million more in agricultural sub- 

 sidies would hardly be noticed I am sure. 



With this alternate source of income I will then be better able to 

 enjoy the wilderness I love, Prince of Wales Island. 



I think wilderness is a good and healthy thing for the environ- 

 ment and for this country. I think Alaska has enough and if you 

 doubt it I invite you to take a hike with me into some of the non- 

 designated wilderness areas. 



Let us not lock up Alaska's resources, its recreation, its future. I 

 want my children to live in Alaska — let us not make it a park for a 

 very wealthy few. 



[The prepared statement of Mr. Finney follows:] 



