    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1995, Book II)]
    [August 1, 1995]
    [Page 1192]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    [[Page 1192]]

    Memorandum on Timber Salvage Legislation
    August 1, 1995

    Memorandum for the Secretary of the Interior; the Secretary of
    Agriculture; the Secretary of Commerce; the Administrator, Environmental
    Protection Agency

    Subject: Implementing Timber-Related Provisions to Public Law 104-19

        On July 27th, I signed the rescission bill (Public Law 104-19),
    which provides much-needed supplemental funds for disaster relief and
    other programs. It also makes necessary cuts in spending, important to
    the overall balanced budget plan, while protecting key investments in
    education and training, the environment, and other priorities.
        While I am pleased that we were able to work with the Congress to
    produce this piece of legislation, I do not support every provision,
    most particularly the provision concerning timber salvage. In fact, I am
    concerned that the timber salvage provisions may even lead to litigation
    that could slow down our forest management program. Nonetheless, changes
    made prior to enactment of Public Law 104-19 preserve our ability to
    implement the current forest plans' standards and guidelines, and
    provides sufficient discretion for the Administration to protect other
    resources such as clean water and fisheries.
        With these changes, I intend to carry out the objectives of the
    relevant timber-related activities authorized by Public Law 104-19. I am
    also firmly committed to doing so in ways that, to the maximum extent
    allowed, follow our current environmental laws and programs. Public Law
    104-19 gives us the discretion to apply current environmental standards
    to the timber salvage program, and we will do so. With this in mind, I
    am directing each of you, and the heads of other appropriate agencies,
    to move forward expeditiously to implement these timber-related
    provisions in an environmentally sound manner, in accordance with my
    Pacific Northwest Forest Plan, other existing forest and land management
    policies and plans, and existing environmental laws, except those
    procedural actions expressly prohibited by Public Law 104-19.
        I am optimistic that our actions will be effective, in large part,
    due to the progress the agencies have already made to accelerate
    dramatically the process for complying with our existing legal
    responsibilities to protect the environment. To ensure this effective
    coordination, I am directing that you enter into a Memorandum of
    Agreement by August 7, 1995, to make explicit the new streamlining
    procedures, coordination, and consultation actions that I have
    previously directed you to develop and that you have implemented under
    existing environmental laws. I expect that you will continue to adhere
    to these procedures and actions as we fulfill the objectives of Public
    Law 104-19.

                                                          William J. Clinton