Political Quotes

“some things never change. This Tongass fight has been going on for a long time. In all regards to my good friend, the ex-chairman of the committee, I can remember in 1989 that the gentleman from California worked very hard to solve the Tongass problem. We very frankly thought we had solved it. In 1990, 400 million board feet were being cut. I was told by the gentleman from California that the mills would still run, there would be plenty of timber. In fact he quoted, if I may quote, Wilderness designation for the 23 areas would reduce the scheduled Tongass timber harvest of 450 million board feet annually by 49 million board feet. The impact of new wilderness on the scheduled timber base of 1.75 million acres is a loss of 238,000 acres. The remaining 1.5 million acres of land scheduled for harvest is capable of producing over 400 million board feet of timber per year. Because of the Forest Service and this administration, a lot of inactivities and the continued taking away of lands, we are now down to very frankly 267 million board feet maybe if the Forest Service sells any. And, by the way, the efforts of the gentleman from California (Mr. Miller) after 1990, we have no more saw mills, pulp mills left in the State. That is why there is no demand. We are trying to develop three or four small mills. Very frankly that is what we are trying to do. We need roads in the area if we are to have any timber. You cannot get timber unless you have roads.”