380 



TESTIMONY OF GOVERNOR STEVE COWPER, STATE OF ALASKA 



BEFORE THE SENATE COMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES 



April 25, 1989, Sitka, Alaska 



Mr. Chairman, members of the subcommittee, I am Steve Cowper, 

 Governor of Alaska. On behalf of the people of Alaska, and 

 particularly those who live in southeast Alaska, I want to 

 welcome you all to our state. Thank you for giving Alaskans the 

 opportunity to express their views about management of the 

 Tongass National Forest. 



The Tongass is a national asset belonging to all citizens of the 

 United States. It is, at the same time, an asset of vital 

 importance to the people of southeast Alaska whose livelihoods 

 depend on the natural resources of the forest. To many, the 

 Tongass is home, and to communities large and small, it provides 

 the basis for most economic activity in the region. During these 

 hearings you will hear from those who depend on the Tongass 

 Forest: loggers and millworkers, commercial fishermen, tour 

 operators, outfitters and guides, hardrock miners, and those who 

 provide services to the primary industries, and people who depend 

 on subsistence use of forest resources in pursuit of their 

 traditional way of life. These and other people of the Tongass 

 value this forest greatly, but they have differing priorities. 



It's not surprising, therefore, that the Tongass has had a long 

 history of conflict. Congress attempted to put that conflict to 

 rest in 1980 when it set aside 5^ million acres of national 

 interest land as wilderness and simultaneously provided for job 

 protection in the dependent timber industry. 



It has become abundantly clear, however, that the divisiveness of 

 this issue has not gone away. The 1980 compromise has not ended 

 the calls for more wilderness nor has it adequately provided 

 stability for the livelihoods and life styles of those who live 

 and work in the forest. In addition, many affected Alaskans and 

 smaller communities in the region believe that their interests 

 were ignored in ANILCA. Many Alaskans share the view that it is 

 time to address these problems. Once again Congress is being 

 asked to legislate the future of southeast Alaska. 



I have opposed legislative changes to the Tongass provisions of 

 ANILCA in both this and the previous Congress because we need a 

 stable legal and regulatory regime. I've also been informed that 

 administrative remedies exist which could correct many of the 

 problems. It's clear to me, however, that Congress intends to 

 change the current law with, or without, a compromise involving 

 affected Alaskans. Unfortunately, neither S. 346 nor S. 237 

 achieves a compromise acceptable to the majority of southeast 

 Alaskans. For this reason, I cannot support either bill. Until 

 such a compromise is reached, the conflict will continue and 

 Congress will be asked to revisit Tongass legislation again in 

 the future. I'd like to put this issue behind us for good. 



