408 



calling for reform, because there are many Southeast Alaskans 

 who want reform. 



The question we have to answer is what kind of reform do we 

 want on the Tongass. Senator Murkowski submitted a bill and Sen- 

 ator Wirth has also submitted a bill. Senator Murkowski's bill does 

 nothing to address the concerns of small communities on the Ton- 

 gass because it does not address land protection. 



On the other hand. Senator Wirth's bill, I believe, is a good bill 

 for all Southeast Alaska, and I want to emphasize also all South- 

 east Alaskans, because it preserves some important fish and wild- 

 life habitat for other users of the forest, commercial fishermen, for 

 subsistence, and for the tourism industry. At the same time, it 

 allows the Forest Service to sell up 4.5 billion board feet a year for 

 the forest products industry, and this will keep all the current log- 

 ging-related jobs, based on past cutting levels. To say that this bill 

 is a disaster to the forest industry is just not correct. 



In conclusion, the City of Port Alexander urges Congress to 

 eliminate the 450 provision of the Alaska Lands Act. This will 

 allow the Forest Service more flexibility in addressing the public's 

 desires. 



We acknowledge the timber industry's legitimate place in South- 

 east but ask that they do the same for other users of the forest. We 

 want to make sure that the key fish and wildlife areas in the Ton- 

 gass, the Kadashans, Lisianskis, Yakutat Forelands, and South 

 Kuius, are permanently protected in some manner, so as to ensure 

 our own economic livelihood. 



[The prepared statement of Mr. Kirchhoff follows:] 



