private lands, as well. As a spokesman for natural resource concerns of the State's citizens, he has a strong personal interest in what happens in the gorge. He is very supportive of a Federal legislative initiative for the gorge. No other mechanism seems likely to offer the credible framework necessary to resolve the long-standing gorge issues. The various parties' energies must now be directed toward cooperative implementation rather than prolonging the dispute. Commissioner Boyle believes the main focus of any Federal legislation should be directed toward the question of land use conversion. This is the area in which your leadership could be most effective. We have found in other forest areas on the urban fringe such as at Tiger Mountain State Forest east of Seattle that maintaining the economic viability of natural resources management will help reduce economic pressures on the landowner, especially the small landowner, to convert to a more intensive use. Therefore, it will be easier to develop consensus on conversion questions if natural resource management options are kept open. In managing State trust lands in the gorge, the State has a legal obligation entrusted to us by the Federal Government at statehood to provide economic benefits to schools, other public institutions and the countries. We nevertheless do have the flexibility in meeting this trust obligation within the direction of adopted laws and policies, including those intended to protect environmental values. Under our forest land management program, we believe we can minimize environmental impacts, including visual impacts in sensitive areas, while still meeting our economic obligations. We can do this, for example, by paying close attention to the timing, size and shape of clearcuts, and by taking measures to reduce the need for slash burning. We're in the process of developing a block plan for our ownership in the gorge which should be available for initial public review next spring. It will elaborate on the visual management practices I've mentioned. We can also address visual impacts through out land exchange program with other large forest land owners. These land exchanges will result in the reduction of the linear extent of common ownership boundaries through such exchanges which will block up adjacent ownership. This means that there is less chance of harvest openings on adjacent ownerships being unintentionally side by side. We also have a legal obligation to exchange only for lands with market value equal to the value of lands given up. This would probably prevent us from exchanging lands which may not be feasible to manage productively such as isolated small ownerships in visually critical locations. We are hopeful that our exchange efforts with the larger, private forest land owners will lead to other cooperative management efforts in the gorge. Cooperative management could lead to voluntary use of measures which maintain high visual quality within profitable forest operations regardless of ownership. Commissioner Boyle has had encouraging personal conversations with industry executives along this line, and he intends to continue to pursue this. He would welcome your support in this area. The Columbia Gorge has a long history of forest management activity. Forestry is a legitimate and vital part of the rural scene, and it should be the goal of Federal legislation to converse this activity. Commissioner Boyle supports the congressional initiative in the gorge, but we would be alarmed if Federal legislation would be seen as a vehicle to regulate or restrict forest management. This would in our view be reaching well beyond the original concept of gorge protection. The consensus on Federal gorge legislation which we believe is achievable would we believe quickly break down if the scope were expanded to include regulation of forestry. Let me repeat; we do believe that with your leadership, Senator Evans, a consensus can be reached. We believe now is the time to do it, and we pledge our cooperation and support in both developing high quality forestry standards in the gorge and in assisting in passage of legislation to resolve the land use conflicts that threaten this unique area. Thank you. Senator EVANS. Next, Jeffrey Breckel, executive director, Oregon and Washington Columbia River Gorge Commission. STATEMENT OF JEFFREY BRECKEL, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, OREGON AND WASHINGTON COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE COMMISSION Mr. BRECKEL. Thank you, Senator. Senator, our message to you, the members of the committee and to the region's congressional delegation is simply that the time has come for immediate action by Congress to resolve the debate over management of the Columbia River Gorge. Despite 5 years of talk little significant progress has been made in resolving the issues and moving forward toward a workable and lasting solution. State and local initiatives have failed. Legislation has been pending in Congress for nearly 3 years with no action. Today we seem to be locked in a hopeless stalemate with the various factions arguing the same points they were several years ago. Nearly everyone agrees the gorge is a special place, a region of unparalleled scenic beauty with a rich cultural background. While we ponder and debate the future of this region it is being determined for us by default. Over 50 governmental entities are making land use and resource management decisions for the gorge. Efforts to provide effective protection for scenic and natural values are fragmented and haphazard. Some agencies have, within their limited resources and authority, attempted to effect varying levels of protection. Others have chosen to ignore the issue. All are making decisions in the absence of any binding regional policies or directions pertaining to scenic natural and cultural values. They are making decisions which are permanently altering the face of the gorge bit by bit. Although the gorge bears marks of our past insensitivity, great beauty remains. But, how long can the gorge continue to absorb our mistakes and our trangressions before we lose what we all cherish? As the situation stands today the question is not will the gorge succumb to incompatible development land use, but rather how soon. How long will it take before we reduce an extraordinary landscape into one which is commonplace? Senator, what we urgently need is sound, effective and equitable legislation for management of the gorge, legislation which will preserve and protect scenic, natural, recreational, economic, and cultural values which will establish and maintain a reasonable balance between environmental protection and economic development and growth, legislation which will treat the gorge as an indivisible unit which will provide for a single management entity with the authority and resources to implement regional policies and directions, while melding local, State, and national interests. We need legislation which recognizes man's historical presence in the gorge, and which recognizes protection of scenic and natural values and that they need not necessarily preclude traditional resource uses. We need legislation which treats all citizens fairly and equitably, which will guarantee an individual's right to due process under the Constitution. We are committed to attaining such legislation, and we urge Congress to make a similar commitment to carefully weigh the facts and to move promptly ahead in forging legislation which will protect this unique region for generations to come. We have provided for the record and for the consideration of the committee our position paper on gorge legislation. This paper provides a more detailed discussion of the elements and concepts which we believe should incorporated in legislation. We stand ready to roll up our sleeves and go to work with you in resolving this issue. Thank you. [The position paper follows:] Oregon and Washington Columbia River Gorge Commissions POSITION PAPER ON GORGE LEGISLATION November 1983 This position paper is not intended as an endorsement of any legislative proposal. Rather it is a compilation and explanation of those key elements and principles which we believe must be embodied in any Gorge management legislation. I. OBJECTIVES The primary and ultimate objective of Gorge management legislation must be the protection, conservation and enhancement of scenic, natural and cultural values for public use, enjoyment and education. In devising the mechanism to achieve this objective, legislation must recognize the nature and character of this special place and the forces that have shaped it. --It must recognize the Gorge as a single, indivisible unit. --It must recognize that resource management and land to --In addition to the diversity of the area's scenic and --It must recognize that protection of scenic and be preserved as long as the character of these uses is not significantly changed. --It must provide for the active participation of the II. MANAGEMENT ENTITY No Current management of the Gorge and its resources is fragmented and provincial. Resource management and land use decisions are made by nearly 50 local, state and federal government entities. Often jurisdictions and responsibilities overlap and conflict. Protection of scenic, natural and cultural values too often falls victim to other organizational objectives, competing interests and legal mandates. single agency has the interest, authority or resources necessary to ensure coordinated regional protection of the area's unique values. Judicious management of the Gorge dictates the need for a single entity with the resources and authority necessary to establish and implement regional policies and directions. The management structure must provide for the full and equal participation of all interests, federal, state and local. No one level of government should dominate the management of the Gorge and its resources. The structure best suited to meet this need is the regional commission capable of impartially hearing and weighing input from all interested parties. The commission must be a citizens board. Its members should be as free as possible from any entanglements or interests with existing management agencies or organizations. To appoint federal, state and local agency representatives or local elected officials would serve only to perpetuate the conflicts and rivalries inherent in the multiplicity of Gorge management agencies. To ensure continuity in operations and familiarity with the Gorge, the commission should be of a reasonable size, allowing it to meet frequently and expeditiously. In view of the above considerations, one possible commission structure could be: --One citizen from each Gorge county who has --Four citizens representing the statewide interest, |