569 



TAKE THE INITIATIVE. I FEEL THAT THERE MUST BE NO MANDATED TIMBER 

 SUPPLY OR SALE QUANTITY, THE TWO 50 YEAR CONTRACTS MUST BE 

 CANCELLED AND THE 23 KEY FISH AND WILDLIFE AREAS MUST HAVE 

 PERMANENT PROTECTION. 



SUCH A SOLUTION BASED ON S.346 WOULD NOT BE CAUSE FOR THE MILLS 

 TO CLOSE. I RECOGNIZE THE NEED FOR A TIMBER INDUSTRY TO BE PART 

 OF THE TONGASS ECONOMY. HOWEVER, THAT INDUSTRY CAN NO LONGER BE 

 AT THE EXPENSE OF THE RECREATION AND FISHING INDUSTRIES NOR AT 

 THE EXPENSE OF THE SMALLER COMMUNITIES. IF THE TIMBER INDUSTRY IS 

 A VIABLE BUSINESS THEN IT WILL SURVIVE WHEN THE TONGASS IS 

 MANAGED LIKE ANY OTHER NATIONAL FOREST. 



THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO TESTIFY. 



