398 



included, there would be litigation initiated by those who suffered 

 damages, and I just offer this in the way of comparison. 



I think, finally, and I do not know if the gentlemen from the 

 Southeast Conference would agree with my generalization, but I 

 think it is fair to conclude that one of the reasons the environmen- 

 tal community is so opposed to up to 4.5 of AC, that is more or less 

 of a legislative dictate. So, if it is not spelled out, I can assure you 

 there will be further efforts to put areas that are not now in wil- 

 derness in wilderness in the Tongass, and that is just a reality. The 

 commitment of the extreme environmental community is to add 

 more wilderness, and they certainly have their right. 



But if you have, and I think that was the intent of the Southeast 

 Conference, "up to," it simply means provide the stability for 

 Southeast Alaska to at least the level we are. Again, the bottom 

 line, in spite of our interpretation of figures, as my colleague evalu- 

 ated for you, the fact remains, whatever figures you use, there are 

 still only 1.7 million acres out of the 5.4 that are set aside for the 

 timber industry, or a renewable 100-year harvest site. Whatever 

 figures you use, the timber industry has only got 1.7. 



Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 



Senator Wirth. Governor, we thank you very much, and maybe 

 you have some closing words for the good of the order before you 

 depart. You are probably ready to get out of here. 



Governor Cowper. No closing words. 



Senator Wirth. Thank you very much, Governor. That was a 

 very productive and helpful discussion for the committee and for 

 the record. As usual, you have been of great assistance. We thank 

 you very much and look forward to working with you and your col- 

 leagues on this in the near future. 



Thank you, sir, for being with us. 



Senator Wirth. If we might refer to our panel. You have all been 

 very patient, and we thank you very much. And I hope you found 

 that exchange interesting, as I did, certainly. 



Mr. Powell, you are next, and we look forward to hearing from 

 you. 



Back to the timer. I had to make an exception for the Governor, 

 but I hope you understand. I felt we should give him as much time 

 as was appropriate. 



STATEMENT OF LARRY E. POWELL, MAYOR OF YAKUTAT, AK 



Mr. Powell. My name is Larry Powell, Mayor of the City of 

 Yakutat, located at the northwestern extremity of the Tongass Na- 

 tional Forest. 



I have held my present position for the past 18 years and have 

 been intimately involved in similar past land designation processes. 

 These include formation of the Wrangell-St. Elias National Park 

 and Preserve, Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve, Russell 

 Fiord Wilderness Area, Situk Wild & Scenic River Study, plus cur- 

 rent ongoing efforts to create the Yakataga-Suckling Hills Game 

 Refuge (Alaska State Legislative process), and the present Tongass 

 reform efforts as it relates to the Yakutat Forelands. 



I have witnessed and attempted to modify or mitigate logging ac- 

 tivities by both the U.S. Forest Service and the State of Alaska Di- 



