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Tongass Timber Reform Act: Implementation of the Act's Contract Modification Requirements

RCED-95-2 Published: Jan 31, 1995. Publicly Released: Mar 02, 1995.
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Highlights

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the Forest Service's implementation of certain unilateral modifications to long-term contracts in Alaska and other requirements of the Tongass Timber Reform Act, focusing on whether: (1) road credits are used consistently between long-term contracts and short-term contracts; (2) buffers of standing timber have been left along designated streams as required; and (3) the Forest Service is requiring full documentation of environmental effects whenever changes are made to timber harvest area boundaries.

Recommendations

Matter for Congressional Consideration

Matter Status Comments
In light of the Forest Service's position that it needs to take no action to comply with the Tongass Timber Reform Act's provision on road credits, Congress may wish to consider directing the Secretary of Agriculture to modify the Ketchikan Pulp contract so that ineffective road credits generated during a timber offering would be cancelled after the timber offering is completed.
Closed – Not Implemented
As a result of litigation, Ketchikan Pulp Company's pulp mill was closed in March 1997 and the Forest Service renegotiated its long-term contract, which makes the recommendation a moot issue.

Recommendations for Executive Action

Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Department of Agriculture To ensure full consideration and disclosure of the environmental impacts of boundary changes to harvest units, the Secretary of Agriculture should direct the Chief of the Forest Service to require Alaska Regional Office officials to periodically check to ensure that forest supervisors are properly documenting the environmental significance of boundary changes to timber harvest units made after environmental impact statements have been issued in the Tongass National Forest.
Closed – Implemented
The Forest Service sent a letter, dated March 13, 1995, to the Regional Forester of the Alaska Region reminding him of the Regional Office's responsibility to ensure proper documentation. The letter requested him to send letters to "the forest supervisors to remind them of their responsibilities to properly document the environmental significance of changes to harvest unit boundaries or the need for additional environmental analysis" made after EISs have been issued. The Regional Forester sent letters to the forest supervisors on March 21, 1995.

Full Report

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Topics

Contract modificationsEnvironment evaluationEnvironmental impact statementsEnvironmental lawForest managementNational forestsReporting requirementsSales contractsTimber salesEnvironmental effects