557 



Many citizens and even some local governments have 

 recognized that the mandatory annual cut Is too much, that the 

 Forest Service single-use timber sales must be made economically 

 viable, that the subsidy must be abolished, and that the 

 monopolistic contracts for two favored Mills are untenable. 

 These existing conditions do not meet the yardsticks of 

 ethically right nor general public benefit. 



In addition to addressing these negatives, the Tongass 

 Timber Reform Act highlights protection of selected areas - 

 areas of particularly rich fisheries or wildlife habitat, areas 

 of particular esthetic pleasure, and areas of high wilderness 

 recreation value. There is much more to the Tongass than being a 

 tree farm for two Mills. 



Senate Bill 346 meets the yardstick of public benefit by 

 protecting ecosystems for multiple uses instead of single use 

 logging; it meets the standard of an ethical good by eliminating 

 special financial benefits for the Mills. 



I favor the reforms in Senate Bill 346, sponsored by 

 Senator Wirth; I urge permanent protection - through wilderness 

 designation - of the 23 areas proposed for study. 



Thank you for accepting my comments into the hearing 

 record . 



i](M>.v:^ 



AoLS. 



Lee M. Schmidt 



