[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 58 (Wednesday, May 7, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Page S4129]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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                       WENATCHEE NATIONAL FOREST

 Mr. GORTON. Mr. President, it is my pleasure today to express 
my deep gratitude and pride in recognizing the Wenatchee National 
Forest as a recipient of the Salvage Sale Showcase Award under the U.S. 
Forest Service's Fiscal Year 1995 Timber Salvage and Recovery Program.
  The Wenatchee National Forest encompasses 2.2 million acres of 
Washington's finest forest lands--lands providing for an abundance of 
recreational activities and employment and resource opportunities for 
Washington State residents. In July 1994, however, a lightning storm 
followed by a severe fire, threatened to suddenly demolish this 
majestic landscape within days.
  When the last flame had been extinguished, the damage was daunting. 
Three fires of unprecedented intensity had consumed 186,000 acres of 
Wenatchee National Forest lands, destroying 37 homes and 76 
outbuildings and threatening the lives of human beings who had dared to 
cross its massive path. Firefighters from various parts of the country, 
8,000 in all, fought valiantly to save the precious resources 
endangered by runaway wildfires. It is to their credit that so many 
homes, communities, and human lives are intact today.
  Determined and resolute, the employees of the Wenatchee National 
Forest went to work. Less than 2 months after the first spark ignited, 
the largest emergency rehabilitation effort ever undertaken by the 
Forest Service was launched with the cooperation of other Federal, 
State, county, and local agencies. The rehabilitation effort addressed 
and executed projects which included erosion control, road 
rehabilitation, wildlife habitat, helicopter seeding, and collaborative 
learning. The effort was successfully completed by mid-November 1994, 
for $18 million--$2 million under budget.
  With the worst behind them, Forest managers looked ahead toward long-
term forest health and sustainability. Interdisciplinary teams 
consisting of personnel from all six ranger districts combined their 
knowledge and know-how to develop the necessary environmental 
documents. Within 11 months, these teams assembled an astounding 10 
environmental analyses and 1 environmental impact statement. Science-
based decisionmaking rendered a total of 22 timber sales, resulting in 
landscape level fuel treatment on over 30,000 acres. Nearly 138 million 
board feet of fire killed or damaged timber was offered for sale.
  Salvage was the key to this vision. Removing dead and dying trees 
provided the much needed opportunity to reduce stress and preserve 
larger, healthier trees. In addition, salvage logging in the Wenatchee 
has enhanced wildlife habitat and supported the perpetuation of ancient 
forest conditions. Mr. President, it is for this very reason that I 
sponsored timber salvage legislation in the spring of 1995. Not only 
was the forest able to begin healing and promoting catastrophic fire 
prevention through salvage operations, it was also able to provide a 
significant amount of timber for the public benefit.
  In conclusion, I want to congratulate and commend the efforts of all 
of those who contributed to the successful and innovative restoration 
of the Wenatchee National Forest. Their accomplishments over the past 3 
years are proof positive that we can effectively balance environmental 
and economic concerns in our national forests if we give local forest 
managers the flexibility they need to do their jobs. The employees of 
this forest are outstanding examples of the teamwork desperately needed 
throughout our national forest system. Because of their 
professionalism, tenacity, and courage, the Wenatchee National Forest 
is on its way back to health and sustainability. My congratulations to 
them on a job well done. Keep up the good work.

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