425 



Senator Wirth. They just list the Lisianski in there. Could you 

 check in with us, if you can, and we will look at those boundaries? 

 Again, I want to have the most local input possible. The difference 

 between 134 and 353, what do you all hold, what would you like to 



say? 



Mr. Yost. I could do that. I could show you by VCU, which are 

 actual boundaries. 



Senator Wirth. We appreciate your being here. 



Now, the last member of this panel is Mr. Paul Johnson, a 

 spokesman for Elfin Cove. 



STATEMENT OF PAUL JOHNSON, ELFIN COVE, AK 



Mr. Johnson. Thank you. I am Paul Johnson, and I was born 

 and raised in Southeast Alaska and have lived here all of my life. I 

 work as a registered guide, and I am here today representing Elfm 

 Cove, a commercial fishing and tourist community. I have lived 

 there for 17 years. 



Our community has always been against the 450 since its incep- 

 tion. We want our local areas permanently protected and also, in 

 addition, to be put in the island group. Our jobs and livelihoods in 

 our area are important to us, too. We are small but talented. We 

 do not want to change our life to take care of others. We have been 

 there a long time. 



The old growth is important to us. It means a lot. It is too bad we 

 have to hang Alaska's laundry up for people throughout the U.S. to 

 look at. The U.S. Government created this problem, so now it is 

 Alaska's problem to clean it up, and we need your help. 



Senator Wirth. Thank you very much, Mr. Johnson. Is Elfin 

 Cove, then, in the same area as Lisianski and the Chichagof? 



Mr. Johnson. That is correct. 



Senator Wirth. All right. We thank you very much. Let me ask 

 my colleagues if they have any questions for this panel. 



Senator Burns. Thank you for the opportunity. I said in my 

 opening statement that I came to listen. And that is the way it is 

 working out, and I have made all these notes here. 



Senator Murkowski. Thank you very much. I want to commend 

 the panel, Mr. Chairman. I think what we have got here is a com- 

 bination of concerns and collective effort from the Southeast Con- 

 ference, enunciated by Mr. Privett. It has been very helpful to me 

 because draft legislation is just that, it does not encompass every- 

 body's point of view. Obviously, it cannot. That is why we have 

 these hearings as a starting point. 



We have two pieces of legislation. You can interpret them differ- 

 ently. I interpret my colleague's as throwing the baby out with the 

 bath water. That may be an unfair evaluation. He suggested mine 

 does not go far enough. 



Now, your input, your reference, sir, was to Elfin Cove, and I 

 have been there many times. I can appreciate the beauty and the 

 splendor and know why you are there. I would like to be there 

 today myself We have an obligation as a Congress, as expressed by 

 you people, to protect those interests, and it can be done and it will 

 be done. 



