University of Virginia Library

Commercial Forest

The letter from E.
Howard printed in the February 19
issue in response to my letter of
February 17 purports to clear up
several "misconceptions" about the
repugnant National Timber Supply
Act (H.R. 12025 and S. 1832) -
misleadingly relabeled the
"National Forest Conservation and
Management Act."

The bill to which I refer is
presently scheduled for House vote
on the afternoon of February 26,
this Thursday. It is, therefore, of
the utmost urgency that the University
community know the truth
about this bill:

1) The bill nowhere mentions
the setting aside of more scenic and
wilderness area land. In fact (and I
use the word "fact" with more care
than Mr. Howard appears to), the
words "wilderness" and
are not to be found in this ball at
all!

2) The bill in no way implies
that national forest land will be
"managed for its best use." The
stated purpose of this Act is "to
provide for the most efficient
development and improved management
of national forest commercial
forest land..." - "commercial
forest land" is defined in Section 3
of the bill as "forest land which is
producing or is capable of producing
crops of industrial wood and
not withdrawn from timber utilization
by statute or administrative
regulation."

I repeat. This bill has been
rightly called "the antithesis of
conservation" and threatens to
"visit environmental disaster on
much of our national forests." This
bill must not be allowed to pass on
Thursday. Write or telegram your
Congressman NOW and urge him to
vote against this unnecessary
on our national forests.