407 



We agree with Sealaska's position that the present system of al- 

 locating the timber resource must be converted to a market-driven 

 approach. It will help to achieve long-term economic stability, even 

 though the short-sighted voice attempts to refute that concept. 



The bottom line for us is that we have supported a well-balanced, 

 multiple-use management approach. That, so far, has been an unat- 

 tainable goal. The future for the Yakutat Forelands holds no prom- 

 ise if we continue to be careless and short-sighted. That is why 

 your efforts are so crucial, Senator Wirth. 



I would like to thank you both for the opportunity to testify and 

 remain at your disposal to answer any questions or can be helpful 

 in resolving these perplexing problems. 



Senator Wirth. Mr. Kirchhoff. 



STATEMENT OF MARK J. KIRCHHOFF, CITY OF PORT 



ALEXANDER, AK 



Mr. Kirchhoff. I am here today representing the City of Port 

 Alexander, and my name is Mark Kirchhoff. 



Port Alexander is a small fishing community of 128 people locat- 

 ed on the southern end of Baranof Island. I have lived in Port Al- 

 exander since 1976, and from 1986 to 1988, I served as Port Alexan- 

 der's mayor. 



To understand Port Alexander, you have to understand how iso- 

 lated it is, and our entire economy is based on commercial fishing 

 and subsistence. In that regard, we are very dissatisfied over the 

 way Tongass has been managed over the last 10 years. Every year, 

 we see thousands and thousands and thousands of acres of produc- 

 tive fish and wildlife habitat turned into relatively sterile second 

 growth. We know from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game 

 and the Forest Service that this is going to result in the long-term 

 reductions of fish and wildlife populations. So that is our concern. 



Now, in 1984, the City Council of Port Alexander unanimously 

 passed a resolution calling for the repeal of the "450" timber 

 supply goal contained in the Alaska Lands Act. I agree with Mike 

 Campbell that the 450 is what drives the Forest Service's planning 

 process on the Tongass. With the 450 written into law, the Forest 

 Service has very little flexibility to change or delete harvest units, 

 stay out of important fish- and wildlife-producing drainages, or oth- 

 erwise meet the desires of local communities, fishermen, sports 

 hunters, or subsistence users of Southeast. 



We recognize the importance of the timber industry to the South- 

 east Alaska and that it means jobs to the mill towns. There are a 

 lot of people here today who can tell you how important the jobs 

 are, but I think it is important to take the whole Nation's economy 

 and look at that, too. 



There are many, many people in Southeast Alaska who depend 

 on healthy fish and wildlife populations and, because of that, there 

 are a lot of groups in Southeast Alaska that have called for reform 

 on the Tongass. That includes 16 Southeast Alaska communities; it 

 includes the Sealaska Corporation, the Alaska Trollers Association, 

 and the Alaska Territorial Sportsmen, and guides and commercial 

 fishermen. It is not right to say that outside environmentalists are 



