[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 33 (Thursday, February 28, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1377-S1378]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     WHITE MOUNTAIN NATIONAL FOREST

  Mr. GREGG. Mr. President, I wish to speak briefly about an important 
issue in my State that involves one of our country's great natural 
treasures, the White Mountain National Forest. Encompassing nearly 
800,000 acres and drawing more than 6 million visitors each year, the 
White Mountain National Forest is not just a place for skiing, hiking, 
snowmobiling, or timber harvesting it is a source of pride for New 
Hampshire. And considering its relatively large footprint in our State, 
how this special place is managed by the U.S. Forest Service matters a 
lot.
  Fortunately, the Forest Service especially Forest Supervisor Tom 
Wagner has done a great job in overseeing the White Mountain National 
Forest. Starting in 1997 when the new forest management plan was being 
developed, the agency made a concerted effort to reach out to the 
public, welcomed outside comments, and was sensitive to the sometimes 
competing views of interested parties. This planning process was not an 
easy task. Forest management is about addressing multiple uses and 
priorities, and ultimately it should be about compromise. The White 
Mountain National Forest has long been utilized for a variety of 
purposes, and any management plan should carefully strike a balance 
among them while also protecting the forest for future generations.
  To come up with a balanced plan, Supervisor Wagner went out of his 
way to listen to public input and worked closely with government 
officials, environmental organizations, businesses, and recreation 
clubs. I met with him during the planning process and was encouraged by 
his outreach and evenhanded approach.
  After years of hard work, Supervisor Wagner and the Forest Service 
arrived at a forest management plan that achieved general consensus 
among the major stakeholders and was well received across New 
Hampshire. I was pleased to support it when the final plan was released 
in 2005, including working with Senator Sununu on legislation 
implementing its wilderness recommendations. Signed into law in 
December 2006, this bill designated nearly 35,000 acres of new 
wilderness in the White Mountain National Forest and was applauded by 
environmental groups from across the State. I should also note that 
even our State's logging industry, represented by the New Hampshire 
Timberland Owners Association, supported the wilderness measure out of 
the spirit of compromise. Clearly, it was not in their business 
interest to support more wilderness designation, but they did it anyway 
since it was part of a balanced management plan that also included 
limited timber harvesting.
  Unfortunately, this balance is now under attack, years after the plan 
was finalized and other elements have been implemented. A few 
environmental groups based outside New Hampshire have filed a lawsuit 
against two timber harvesting projects that were part of the 2005 
Forest Management Plan. Encompassing less than 1,200 acres, the 
projects already have been subject to environmental review, would be 
very limited in scope, and would be carried out over existing road 
systems. By delaying these projects, this lawsuit is

[[Page S1378]]

not only blocking an economic boost for the State and additional 
revenues for local governments but also blocking the projects' 
environmental benefits since they would create habitats critical for 
wildlife management. Well respected environmental groups such as the 
Society for Protection of New Hampshire Forests, Appalachian Mountain 
Club, and Audubon Society have come out against this legal challenge, 
and I support their efforts to maintain the consensus approach 
underlying the 2005 Forest Management Plan.
  The White Mountain National Forest can and should be accessible to a 
wide variety of users, and we have a carefully crafted plan to 
accommodate them. It is unfortunate that a few groups who had their 
chance to provide input during the planning process are resorting to 
litigation to take apart the 2005 Forest Management Plan. Of course, 
the Forest Service must follow the law and carry out certain 
environmental reviews, and I defer to the courts to resolve these legal 
questions. However, I strongly believe that this lawsuit runs counter 
to New Hampshire's interests and undermines the good will among our 
State's major stakeholders which has been critical for advancing sound 
environmental policies. I therefore hope that this legal challenge is 
resolved as soon as possible and that we can all support the Forest 
Service's management of the White Mountain National Forest, including 
its proposed timber harvesting projects.

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