572 



any charges filed because I think that is contrary to Forest Service 

 rules? 



Mr. Metcalf. Yes. The Justice Department made the decision for 

 political reasons, I guess, not to involve the Forest Service in litiga- 

 tions with the two mills. I spoke to a Justice department investiga- 

 tor who told me that he was aware of that information and they 

 had made that decision. 



Senator Burns. Thank you very much. 



I have no further questions. 



Senator Wirth. Thank you very much, Senator Burns. 



This is for Mr. Metcalf. Mr. Metcalf, you worked for the Forest 

 Service for some time? 



Mr. Metcalf. That is correct. 



Senator Wirth. How long did you work for the Forest Service? 



Mr. Metcalf. About 24 years, 20 years on the Tongass. 



Senator Wirth. What did you do on the Tongass? 



Mr. Metcalf. I was a naturalist with the land use planner and 

 then I completed my career as manager of the Admiralty Island 

 National Monument. 



Senator Wirth. What in your best estimate or what is the reason 

 that the Tongass is treated differently from other national forests? 

 First of all, do you agree that it is treated differently? 



Mr. Metcalf. Yes. I think the Forest Service had their mind set 

 that they needed to convert all of the old growth here and they 

 were encouraged in that in the beginning and then as the economy 

 systems of the United States and Alaska changed the Forest Serv- 

 ice was unable to change and they continued to drive at being ma- 

 ternalistic towards the timber industry and the Forest Service, I 

 think, refused to change while ever3rthing else around them 

 changed and that is the excuse that they used for years. It is just 

 that, an excuse. 



Senator Wirth. Then the excuse they use is that things are dif- 

 ferent here? 



Mr. Metcalf. Yes. 



Senator Wirth. Is there any validity in the fact that what they 

 do is driven by the 4.5 billion board feet ten-year requirement? 



Mr. Metcalf. When the Tongass Land Management Plan was 

 completed there were a number of provisions in there, ANILCA 4.5 

 and a number of other provisions, and the Forest Service essential- 

 ly ignored those other provisions and strove to meet the 4.5 at the 

 expense of the other provisions, I think, provisions about habitat 

 and subsistence and so forth. 



Senator Wirth. Is there any target like that for any other na- 

 tional forest in the country? 



Mr. Metcalf. No, sir. In fact, the Forest Service in congressional 

 hearing, the Chief of the Forest Service said that that would tie 

 their hands and they would be opposed to it. 



Senator Wirth. If that existed in any other national forest? 



Mr. Metcalf. Yes, sir. 



Senator Wirth. Are there any long term contracts like on the 

 Tongass in any other national forest? 



Mr. Metcalf. Not that I am aware of. 



Senator Wirth. Do any other national forests have the automatic 

 appropriation? 



