325 



I AM RICHARD RANSDELL, AND I AM EMPLOYED IN KETCHIKAN BY A COMPANY 

 INVOLVED IN BOTH LOGGING AND TOURISM, AND HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN 

 FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE PAST 20 YEARS. DISCUSSION OF ELIMINATION 

 OF THE LONG-TERM SALES WOULD CERTAINLY AFFECT THE ABILITY TO FINANCE THE 

 TYPE PROJECTS WHICH WERE PUT IN PLACE WITH THE ADVENT OF THE LONG-TERM 

 SALES NOW IN EXISTENCE. I FEEL THE GOVERNMENT, IN PROVIDING THESE 

 SALES, INDUCED NOT ONLY THE SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT IN THESE PLANTS BUT 

 IN ADDITION, INVESTMENT BY MANY INDEPENDENT LOGGERS AND OTHER SUPPORT 

 ACTIVITIES. I AM CONFIDENT IN THIS STATEMENT AS I PARTICIPATED IN THE 

 FINANCING AND BUILDING OF A $65,000,000 FIBERBOARD PLANT IN THE REPUBLIC 

 OF IRELAND WHICH WAS ONLY POSSIBLE WHEN WE HAD OBTAINED A 20-YEAR 

 CONTRACT WITH THE IRISH GOVERNMENT FOR WOOD SUPPLY. 



NOW THAT THE INFRASTRUCTURE IS IN PLACE, THE GOVERNMENT IS TRYING TO 

 CHANGE THE RULES. THE COMPANY I WORK FOR HAS EXPORTED OVER 100 MILLION 

 DOLLARS WORTH OF LUMBER IN THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS, WHICH CERTAINLY MUST 

 HELP THE BALANCE OF TRADE. IN PRODUCING THIS LUMBER WE HAVE PROVIDED 

 APPROXIMATELY 200 PEOPLE IN THE SMALL CITY OF WRANGELL WITH YEAR-ROUND 

 EMPLOYMENT AND A SIMILAR NUMBER OF SEASONAL JOBS IN LOGGING, NOT 

 INCLUDING THE MULTIPLIER EFFECT. 



AN ADEQUATE TIMBER SUPPLY AND A MARKET TO SELL PULP LOGS IS ESSENTIAL TO 

 THE EXISTENCE OF THE AREAS' SAWMILLS AND LOGGING OPERATIONS. WE SHOULD 

 ALL RECOGNIZE THE POTENTIAL IMPACT ON THE ECONOMY OF SOUTHEAST ALASKA OF 

 CHANGES IN GOVERNMENT POLICY. TIMBER AND RELATED INDUSTRIES SUPPLY A 

 LARGE NUMBER OF OUR CITIZENS WITH EMPLOYMENT. 



I THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS MY OPINION ON WHAT IS AN 

 IMPORTANT MATTER TO THE PEOPLE OF SOUTHEAST ALASKA. 



