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MANAGER OF ADMIRALTY ISLAND NATIONAL MONUMENT. 



A GREAT DEAL HAS BEEN SAID, BY THE FOREST SERVICE AND THE TIMBER 

 INDUSTRY, ABOUT THE NEED TO MAINTAIN THE LONG TERM CONTRACTS. WE 

 HAVE ALL HEARD THE RHETORIC CONCERNING THE OBLIGATION OF THE 

 GOVERNMENT TO KEEP ITS WORD AND HONOR ITS COMMITMENT TO THE 

 TIMBER INDUSTRY. WE HAVE ALSO HEARD ABOUT THE NEED FOR THE FOREST 

 SERVICE TO COMPLETE ITS PLANNING PROCESS, THE CURRENT TONGASS 

 LAND MANAGEMENT PLAN REVISION, PRIOR TO ANY CONGRESSIONAL 

 ACTION. 



I WOULD LIKE TO OFFER A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE. A PERSPECTIVE 

 BASED ON PERSONAL INVOLVEMENT WITH AND OBSERVATION OF THE FOREST 

 SERVICE, ON THE TONGASS, FOR 20 YEARS. 



THE FOREST SERVICE HAS HAD A VERY CLOSE ALLIANCE WITH THE TIMBER 

 INDUSTRY ON THE TONGASS, FOREST PLANNING AND DECISIONS HAVE 

 HISTORICALLY BEEN BIASED IN FAVOR OF THE INDUSTRY. OTHER 

 RESOURCES, WHEN LEFT TO THE AGENCY, HAVE RECEIVED ONLY TOKEN 

 CONSIDERATION. THE AGENCY HAS ADOPTED THE POSITION THAT THE 

 HIGHEST AND BEST USE OF THE TONGASS IS FOR TIMBER PRODUCTION. 



WHENEVER THE FOREST SERVICE HAS DEPARTED FROM THIS POSITION IT 

 HAS BEEN BECAUSE OF PRESSURE FROM CONGRESS OR THE COURTS. THE 

 FOREST SERVICE HAS NOT DEMONSTRATED, WHEN LEFT TO ITS OWN 

 LEADERSHIP, THAT IT IS ABLE TO MANAGE THE TONGASS SO THAT ALL 

 RESOURCES ARE GIVEN FAIR AND EQUAL TREATMENT. 



IN THE EARLY SIXTIES THE FOREST SERVICE STATED THAT THEY PLANNED 



