community of Darrington, Washington in Mt. Baker N effects of clear cuts. In Eastern Washington, Naches Di recently took place in the upper Nile Creek. This area National Forest. The upper Nile Creek area is sub-alpine has little merchantable timber. This area is now tra damage has occurred, slash is abundant, and the aest Nile drainage has declined. The next question that arises is, what are alternativ practices? First, in areas where clear cuts are absolutel must never exceed 20 acres; under no circumstances sl within 12 miles of any lake, river, or stream; third, in such as the pine forests of Eastern Washington, recr values must receive greater emphasis; fourth, road build reduced if any wild areas are to survive. I am not saying that the logging industry must cea trary, the United States needs lumber. However, I do be greatly reduced. We must stop exporting logs and lu import. We must end waste of old lumber and start re slash from logging operations must be used even thou might be involved. Technology has nearly destroyed t we must use technology to save our ecological systems will be involved. It is a Constitutional right to have places of beauty. might not ever be saved. I am requesting that this the hearing record on forest management. Thank you S time and interest. Sincerely, Jo SIDNEY, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CA DEAR SENATOR: I have enclosed a report that I prepa practices that were questioned in the "Bolle Report" in Montana. As you will see I do not agree with the recommenda or the conservation groups. I hope that any legislation pa on this subject, will not be judged by the recommendati Very truly yours, J. Ret (The report referred to was retained in the Committee 60-209-71-pt. 2- -17 i point of fact, clear-cutting must necessary we recognized til the expiration of a complete maturity cycle of one h rs. If a return to the select logging method is used the in venty-year timber cycle could possibly be maintained, but ng method, it will be impossible to continue timber harvest e that large lumber lobbies exert great pressures upon permit expedient methods of removing timber. However, e to harvest timber it is in our best national interests to ethods at this time. also opposed to the following: The slashing or thinning pr I clear-cut areas which many times results in the burning of ads of feet of merchantable timber, and the thousands of are built into big game sanctuaries which tend to hasten the dlife and contribute to soil erosion and stream pollution. nation, for the continuation of harvestable timber and sustai equate wildlife habitat and aesthetic values, clear-cutting m ts are pertinent, not alone to Western Montana, but to a ern timber producing states that have suffered from the un ar-cutting. May we please have your immediate action ag struction of our National Forests. pectfully, HERBERT H. GEBHART, Chairman, Action Commit for Better Timber and Water Conser gnatures to the petition referred to was retained in the C TTEE ON PUBLIC LANDS, Ice Building, Washington, D.C. PORT ORANGE, FLA., March 23 ENATORS: As one deeply concerned with the conservation and our National Forest, may I respectifully request your suppor of sound ecological forest management. ntry can no longer afford the wanton destruction of our trees o reforestation and the preservation of the ecological balance of portunity which you are affording to the general public to be 1 er, is greatly appreciated, and it is hoped that your final ju tter will be made on the basis of what is best for all of natur lants-not just for today, but for the millions who will come a pectfully, (Mrs. N. D.) HELEN H. GA WASHINGTO SUBCOMMITTEE ON PUBLIC LANDS, GENTLEMEN: Evidence that the Forest Service is, in ful of its primary function-presumably, the safegu Forests continues to appear. For one example, the pra been permitted, if not encouraged, with little obvious save that of the timber cutters. Let me cite one specific case. In the Big Horn Nationa Wyoming, what were once stands of scenic Ponderosa to bare, ugly wastes. Apparently, no question of rate ecological effect was considered. Why the Forest Servi is hard to understand, i.e., assuming their aim to be p I request that this letter be included in the record. Sincerely, PAO SUBCOMMITTEE ON PUBLIC LANDS, Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. SIR: I wish to comment National Forest Manageme you are accepting public comment upon this subject. The first point I wish to make is that the Forests sh adherence to good ecological principles. This should be above all else, even the practice of sustained yield and considerations must be put into perspective to the ecolog Timber cutting must be based upon the established g It should not be increased for any economic reason an of wood can be eliminated by the reduction of our tin Japan. Also watershed and other resources must be taken the forest cover is sold, reforestation should be an obliga And lastly, and most importantly, it has to be remer Forests are held in the public interest, not for the econ Thank you. Sincerely, erests have held back their own lands while they pressur ut our timber. een many instances of logging roads built deeply into a n a minimum cutting is done, clearcut, and leaving sc Is--an instance is on the highway to Mount Baker, adja Cascades National Park. no urgency for increased cutting, and the Forest Service iting excessive grazing and to trail improvement instead. ted that the letter be made a part of the hearing recor it. lest personal regards, PETER J. EUGENE NATOR CHURCH: I am registering my opposition to Preside order allowing a 60% increase in logging. The logging indus thod would leave half of Oregon and in particular half of I eroded. B. S SAN LUIS OBISPO CALIF., April NK CHURCH, fice Building, m, D.C. ENATOR CHURCH: I have heard that you are conducting he ethods on public National Forest Lands, and being concer inform you of some examples of bad logging practices I have ke this letter part of the official record. geles National Forest of Southern California, just North of Lo much evidence of unsound forestry practices, even though ti w excluded so that the remaining trees can be used for: decimating much of the forest.). - Mountain Ridge, just North-West from Mt. San Antonio, th he Forest, there are blatant examples of lousy forestry, so ponsible belong in jail. The area I am describing on Pine along the Fish Fork Trail between Lupine Campground a . The worst affected areas are on the South-facing slopes, wł r old logging roads and still no trees. I will send you a copy of soon as I make some more copies. a on 3 sides of the logged area has been proposed for wild ut the Forest Service has fought the proposal, which is f the grounds that the area is not of "Wilderness quality". Thi all areas for which the U.S. Forest Service doesn't want a d s, and in this case it is a stark lie. forest roads as well as from the windows of my home. I have lived in this forested area for over thirty ye believed that the U.S. Forest Service acted, as charge eral forest lands, that is no longer true. In practice, t best economic interests of the resource harvesters, miners, stockmen or other commercial "developers", or eventual ecological damage. Some of the U.S.F.S. employees deplore the ravagi immediate benefit of these selected industries but say pressure from the harvesting industries (locally the management tends to overlook any other objective, if timber harvest. Such evaluation should be prohibited. Official directive gives lip service to required conside side effects, but after all the consideration, the proj planned. There seems to be no thought of an alternativ as well as the environment intact. The continuing patt roads farther into more steep, fragile and remote areas. Despite apparent ecological facts which tell us that associated with certain other plants, such as those ass in the forest, the practice of clear cutting continues to areas, where in the resulting dust, selected varieties to produce timber. Just as farming, as now practiced. become self-destructive, so the forests, if "farmed" to serve their ultimate potential. There is much industry-fostered contention that the and the Forest Service is going along by issuing orders in the cut, but before any such contention is accepte required to make use of every tree which is cut, with of it as slash, and thus laying a blanket of smoke o Also we cannot accept the statement that we have a as we are exporting timber to other countries. Before is available and make plans for future building to fit t of resources. While there are many people needing she are also many people with too many homes. There are to do some belt-tightening and they should be encoura Respectfully submitted, REDDING Hon. FRANK CHURCH. Subcommittee on Public Lands, U.S. Senate, Washington, D.C. DEAR SENATOR CHURCH: I submit this letter as p oversight hearings on management practices on public |