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PROBLEMS ON THE TONGASS. THE CURRENT TONGASS PLANNING IS IN 

 SERIOUS TROUBLE. WE ARE HEADED TOWARDS A PLANNING SOLUTION THAT 

 MAINTAINS BUSINESS AS USUAL AND ONCE MORE FAVORS THE TIMBER 

 INDUSTRY. SUCH A SOLUTION IGNORES THE ISSUES AND HISTORY. 



THE CHIEF OF, THE FOREST SERVICE TESTIFIED IN CONGRESS, SEVERAL 

 MONTHS AGO, THAT THE FOREST SERVICE WAS OPPOSED TO A MANDATED 

 ALLOWABLE SALE QUANTITY FOR THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN REGION BECAUSE IT; 

 "TIED THE HANDS OF THE MANAGERS." ASSOCIATE CHIEF GEORGE LEONARD 

 TESTIFIED IN MARCH, IN A US HOUSE HEARING, THAT THE FOREST 

 SERVICE WAS IN FAVOR OF THE ALLOWABLE SALE QUANTITY FOR THE 

 TONGASS. THE ASSOCIATE CHIEF DID NOT HAVE AN ANSWER WHEN ASKED 

 WHY THE FOREST SERVICE WOULD OPPOSE THE PROVISION FOR ONE REGION 

 AND SUPPORT IT FOR ANOTHER. 



AT THIS SAME HOUSE HEARING ASSOCIATE CHIEF LEONARD ADMITTED THAT 

 THE FOREST SERVICE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO BRING TOGETHER THE 

 TONGASS FACTIONS FOR SOME TYPE OF COMPROMISE. YET WE ARE ASKED TO 

 TRUST THE FOREST SERVICE PLANNING PROCESS TO RESOLVE THE ISSUES. 



I CAN'T HELP BUT BE CYNICAL WHEN I HEAR THE TIMBER INDUSTRY TELL 

 CONGRESS THAT ALL THEY WANT IS TO BE TREATED FAIRLY. THAT WOULD 

 INDEED BE A PLEASANT CHANGE! 



I BELIEVE ITS TIME THAT THE TONGASS WAS TREATED FAIRLY. TO 

 BELIEVE THAT THE FOREST SERVICE WILL SOLVE THE TONGASS ISSUES 

 THROUGH ITS PLANNING PROCESS IS TO IGNORE HISTORY. CONGRESS MUST 



