SENATOR MILLER announced HJR 55 (TONGASS NATIONAL FOREST TIMBER HARVESTS) to be up for consideration. TAPE 94-40, SIDE B Number 580 REPRESENTATIVE WILLIAMS, Sponsor, said HJR 55 asks Congress to review the economic impact of Southeast Alaska on the Forest Products Industry, brought about by ANILCA and the Tongass Reform Act of 1990. There has been a timber shortage since 1990 resulting in the loss of more than 600 forest products industry jobs in southeast Alaska. The lack of an assured supply of timber available for harvest posses a great threat to the economic well being of the region, Representative Williams said. SENATOR ZHAROFF said he didn't have trouble with the timber industry portion of the bill. But he and other legislators have been receiving a number of messages from other resource users in the state who are concerned. Number 540 KATYA KIRSCH, Alaska Environmental Lobby, opposed HJR 55, because the Congressional report it requests is already required and petitions the Forest Service to manage the Tongass National Forest in a way that will force Southeast Alaska to face the same environmental and economic collapse seen in the Pacific Northwest. She said the legislature has all the user groups in their constituencies, not just timber. It's poor policy to accommodate a single interest, especially when it can negatively impact other people and industries in the state. SENATOR LEMAN said he understands her to be saying that if they are optimizing opportunity for the timber industry, they are of necessity not optimizing opportunity for other interests. That is not his conclusion. He thinks they can optimize an opportunity for timber and other industries within the confines of the existing management plans. MS. KIRSCH commented that current harvest levels have been below that stated in law. Problems like subsistence, viable populations, and the fact that there just isn't enough timber in certain units have been cropping up. The intent of the language in this resolution is to increase what has already been happening when that is already unsustainable - as far as all of the user groups being able to continue their uses. CHUCK ACHBORGER, Director, Juneau Chamber of Commerce, supported HJR 55. It is extremely important for Southeast Alaska to have a viable timber base for a viable economy. The Tongass Land Management Plan was put together with a consensus of all interests. Timber ended up with 10% of the Tongass to work with. Ever since then, they have been fighting to maintain that 10%. TROY REINHART, Executive Director, Alaska Forest Association, supported HJR 55. It does not ask for anything that isn't in current law. SENATOR LEMAN asked him if he found the Tongass Timber Reform Act of 1990 workable. MR. REINHART said it was workable and they will continue to make it workable. SENATOR ZHAROFF said looking at the citations and resolutions that have come in from the different municipalities and interest groups he represents, he thought their comfort level would be increased greatly if they adopt amendments asking that the other resources be protected in all of these deliberations. SENATOR ZHAROFF moved to adopt amendment #1. SENATOR MILLER objected for the purpose of discussion. SENATOR ZHAROFF explained it would replace the first "WHEREAS." The amendment defers to the goal of sustainable yield of the various resources. REPRESENTATIVE WILLIAMS said the various acts in place now, like the Forest Practices Act, are working. He, therefore, objected. SENATOR ZHAROFF suggested he work with the sponsor over the weekend and move the bill out Monday. SENATOR MILLER said that would be fine and he asked Representative Williams if he objected to amendment #2. REPRESENTATIVE WILLIAMS said that he objected to that one also. SENATOR MILLER announced HJR 55 to be back before the committee. SENATOR ZHAROFF moved amendment #1. There were no objections and it was so ordered. SENATOR ZHAROFF moved amendment # 2. There were no objections and it was so ordered. SENATOR ZHAROFF moved to pass CS to HJR 55 (RES) am from committee. There were no objections and it was so ordered.