340 



up to 4.5 billion board feet per decade, adjusted at the Secretary's 

 discretion depending on market conditions and subject to multiple 

 use values for the Tongass Forest. This serves to maintain existing 

 jobs in the forest while protecting fish, wildlife and their habitat. 



Second, we must ensure that the Forest Service is able to make 

 marginal timber stands viable sales for the industry and sustain 

 other values. The Southeast Conference proposes establishment of 

 a specific and intensive management fund to do so. 



Third, we must protect the areas from timber harvest which 

 have high values of fish and wildlife production and community 

 use of those areas. The Southeast Conference proposes 12 areas be 

 set aside from timber harvest and be put in LUD 2 designation. 



Fourth, we must increase the land trades to increase the timber 

 base for the allowable harvest level, which is to include potential 

 use of harvested land. The Southeast Conference recommends land 

 trades, exchanges, or purchases of non-wilderness lands. 



Finally, we must provide opportunity to strengthen the South- 

 east economy. To meet this need, the Southeast Conference pro- 

 poses the establishment of an economic diversification fund of 

 grants and loans. 



There is probably no specific interest group that is totally satis- 

 fied with our position. The position remains controversial, particu- 

 larly within environmental and timber industries. We have worked 

 to protect the contracts and the small mills, and yet we recommend 

 that the Secretary determine the appropriate harvest level for the 

 Tongass land management planning process, depending on market 

 conditions and subject to other uses of the forest. We have come to 

 understand in the performance of intensive management land 

 trades and purchases may be the only way to increase the land 

 base, and it is just as important as economic diversification. 



Please understand that this is a fragile package that is balanced 

 by the five key elements that are of equal importance. It is fair, 

 reasonable and critical to the people of Southeast Alaska, critical 

 because it addresses the importance of strengthening and diversify- 

 ing our economy. We realize that this is a national forest being 

 managed in the interest of all Americans. 



Senator Wirth. Now, your final words will all be in the record as 

 well as your proposal. You see, now we are moving; when the red 

 light goes on, then we move. Thank you very much. 



Mr. Privett, we appreciate the work you and all of your col- 

 leagues have done. Mr. Dapcevich was our host last night, as Frank 

 Murkowski pointed out. There were a very diverse group of people 

 on the boat, and that beautiful evening in Sitka we thank you very 

 much for, Mr. Mayor. 



STATEMENT OF JOHN DAPCEVICH, MAYOR OF SITKA, AK 



Mr. Dapcevich. Good morning. I would like to extend a very 

 warm Sitka welcome to Senators from Colorado and Montana and 

 to our own Senator, Frank Murkowski, and to members of your 

 staff. 



For the record, my name is John Dapcevich. I am the mayor of 

 the city and borough of Sitka, Alaska, and I am a 60-year resident 

 of Alaska. 



