416 



and I think, Senator, this was your suggestion, we should draw at 

 random. All the names were submitted, including those on the 

 lists, to our offices in Ketchikan and Juneau, prior to the deadline. 

 The manner in which they were transmitted back to Washington I 

 do not know, but they came in to the professional staff and they 

 were catalogued on the computer and then drawn out in that proc- 

 ess. I did not have anything to do with that. Our professional staff 

 was there, and I would be happy to answer at a later time any 

 questions you may have. 



I want to just make a very short reference to the representative 

 from Tenakee Springs. I certainly have no objection to the commu- 

 nity expressing its wishes or feelings. I think one of the things that 

 we have to recognize is that the Forest Service is not blameless 

 either, just like the rest of us. They come into the small communi- 

 ties and they say, "Well, we have a mandate of 4.5, and that is why 

 we have to do this or that." Well, I do not buy that; I do not sup- 

 port that. The fact that the Forest Service has cut 3.7 is a reality, 

 and they should not allow you to be stampeded by that threat. I 

 would support your position in that regard. As to my attitude 

 toward the Mayor of Yakutat, I do not want any more Forest Serv- 

 ice sales to occur in Yakutat. This is one area where we should 

 make sure it does not happen. It should not be denuded, and if you 

 have got most of your area under native soil and there would be 

 clearcut, that is fine. You will not get any more Forest Service 

 sales. 



Thank you. 



Senator Wirth. I hope by putting it on the record and explaining 

 to everybody what did happen, we can clear this up. I appreciate 

 your bringing it up. And I understand the frustration of a lot of 

 people and the feeling that something did happen — how the lists 

 got into this. 



Thank you. 



Dick Eliason, State Senator from Alaska. 



STATEMENT OF RICHARD I. ELIASON, ALASKA STATE SENATOR 



Senator Eliason. Mr. Chairman, thank you. 



I am Alaska State Senator Dick Eliason, and I represent Senate 

 District B, which encompasses the majority of the Tongass Nation- 

 al Forest. I have lived here in Sitka for 50 years, and I have been 

 in the State Legislature for 19 years. 



Mr. Chairman, I am sure that over the past couple of years you 

 have become familiar with the Tongass issues and know that we 

 are dealing with a very sensitive and complex issue. 



As I am sure you are aware, this district, like most of the South- 

 east, has an economy that relies heavily on fishing, tourism, 

 mining and timber. All four of these industries are of great impor- 

 tance to the well-being of the people I represent. Let me assure you 

 that the decisions that you make relating to the Tongass National 

 Forest will have far-reaching ramifications on our economy. 



There is considerable fear that if the current proposed changes 

 in the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act, or 

 ANILCA, were to be implemented, the Alaska Pulp Corporation 

 would soon be forced out of business. This would, of course, pro- 



