Copyright 1999 Federal News Service, Inc.
Federal News Service
MARCH 4, 1999, THURSDAY
SECTION: IN THE NEWS
LENGTH:
858 words
HEADLINE: PREPARED STATEMENT OF THE
HONORABLE HELEN CHENOWETH
CHAIRMAN
BEFORE THE HOUSE
RESOURCES COMMITTEE
SUBCOMMITTEE ON FORESTS AND FOREST HEALTH
SUBJECT -
FOREST SERVICE ROAD MORATORIUM
BODY:
Today the
Subcommittee on Forests and Forest Health convenes to review the Forest
Service's current and proposed road management policies. In particular, we will
focus on the Forest Service's progress in developing a long-term road management
policy, which it initiated in January, 1998. We will also look at the agency's
18-month moratorium on construction and reconstruction of roads in
roadless areas, which was first announced thirteen months ago
but which formally took effect only this week.
This policy has generated a
great deal of interest and concern over the past year. And since the Forest
Service should now be two-thirds completed with the development of its long-term
road management policy, I must ask why the agency decided to announce, three
weeks ago today, the beginning of the 18-month moratorium. I fear it is because
they have not accomplished much on the long term policy. Last year, after his
initial announcement of the moratorium, Chief Dombeck testified that the
moratorium was not yet in effect. But, in reality, it has been in effect ever
since, because the Forest Service's land managers immediately altered any plans
they had to enter roadless areas that would qualify under the
proposed moratorium. By my count that makes it a two-and-a-half year moratorium.
One of my biggest concerns with the moratorium is its effect on the
condition of our forests. The Forest Service has repeatedly told us that they
have 40 million acres of national forest land at high risk of catastrophic fire.
Their new insect and disease maps verify that this risk is only increasing -
especially in Idaho, where much of the northern part of the state is mapped in
red, indicating that 25 percent or more of the trees are expected to die within
the next 15 years! This is a catastrophic condition that requires human
intervention if we hope to keep our forests for our own and future generations.
Dr. David Adams, Professor of Forest Resources, Emeritus at the University
of Idaho, submitted testimony for our hearing but unfortunately could not attend
today. He is well known for his work on forest health and sustainability, and I
greatly respect his views. With the Subcommittee's indulgence, I would like to
read a few lines from his statement and submit it in its entirety for the
record.
Dr. Adams wrote: "I am concerned that, without adequate access, we
will not be able to manage for sustainable forests."
He explains: "A very
important aspect of sustainable forest management is to avoid the conditions
which promote insect outbreaks, the spread of tree diseases, and damaging
wildfires ....As you know, past conditions and events such as fire exclusion,
early logging practices, introduction of exotic pests, grazing of domestic
livestock, and the mere presence of settlers have caused changes in our forests.
Forest density and tree species composition are commonly much different from
those of historic forests .... "
Dr. Adams then offers an appropriate
solution:
"First, density reduction, usually through thinning, is necessary
over large areas. Then application of prescribed fires may be appropriate. Both
of these activities require road access. It is unlikely that funding will be
made available to the Forest Service to do the needed thinning and just leave
the thinned trees on the ground - and even if this were possible it would not be
advisable because of the fuel accumulation. All or part of the cost of thinning
can be retrieved through sale of the trees removed, but this requires access.
Safe application of prescribed fires also requires access."
Dr. Adams
concludes his testimony with the observation that while roads do impact wildlife
and contribute to stream sedimentation, "much more habitat damage and
sedimentation results from widespread pest outbreaks and catastrophic
wildfires."
I must mention one other concern that I have heard. In the
Forest Service's estimates of the impacts of the moratorium, we have been told
how many miles of road construction, reconstruction and temporary roads, and how
much timber volume, will be impacted in planned timber sales and "forest
projects" over the next year. Yet the Washington Office has not displayed the
extent of these impacts on the local communities that will surely occur if the
volume is not replaced by other sales available to the same local economies
during the same time period. I am told that field staff estimate the projected
loss of 30 million board feet on the Boise and Payette National Forests, for
example, will result in 300 lost jobs and at least $11 million in lost income to
the community. There will be a corresponding drop in 25% funds to States and
Counties, directly impacting school and county budgets. The Forest Service must
be prepared to address these and other impacts of the moratorium now, not when
the long term policy is completed.
I have not mentioned my concerns about
recreation access, because we have two excellent witnesses available to address
this subject. I look forward to the testimony of all our witnesses, and I thank
you all for your willingness to appear before us today.
END
LOAD-DATE: March 9, 1999 
