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v' ' ,:.. technology; used ~conjunction with timber sales "'re economically effi- . cient, hold promi~to reduce the cost of vegetati~management? Other questions that should also be explored include: ~ the non-timber mul-(eJ .tiple use benefi ts to be achieved through the timber program really needed? Do projections of demand for these non-timber objectives support the need for(f) the Federal expendi tures required to achieve them? ~ are the high-level" ('a) l1on-timber and amenity benefits that would be lost and who would be affected by the change and in what ways? The nature of the economic si tuation related to the timber program on the San Juan and G<-lUG would indicate the need to explore fully such questions an~ to provide the public the results of such evaluations. The planning documentS(h) for these two forests are currently deficient in this regard. is Another separate but related issue is that even though the below-cost sales , issue has been raised by the public for a number of years, there is lirrlp lV evidence in the> rprnrr1 of the extent to which either Forest has previously, is now, or will in the future explore ways to substantially reduce timber and road costs or enhance revenues Mlile achieving, at the same time, appropriate multiple use objectives and providing adequate supplies of timber to meet the existing dependent plant capacity and job needs of the community. Neither d9 the planning documents evaluate the effect on the overall economics of the (j) timber program that could result from efforts to reduce costs and/or enhance revenues. A recently completed Forest Service study of the Black lIills National Forest, ,which has forest conditions and timber selling practices similar in many way~ L \ to those of the San Juan and G~lUG, found significant OPD<1rrllnirip"" to reduce ,/<...J ~osts and erulance revenues from the timber program without adversely affectir.s bimber sale levels or damaging non-timber resource uses. Similar opportuni- ties may exist on the San Juan and GMUG and should be aggressively explored. l~J Neither the San Juan nor the Gr'lUG Records of Decision contain adequate~- ulanation as to the specific non-priced objectives or responses to public is- sues that will be achieved through continuing and increasing timber sales with known costs greater than expected revenues. Although non-priced objectives, ,such as community stability and the multiple use benefits associated with vegetation management, were discussed in general terms in'the planning docu- ments, more detailed discussion, backed by competent analysis, is needed to inform the public why the Forest Service believes that the values of achieving those objectives exceed the costs of the program. ./ since there is no indication in the planning documents that increases in tim- , ber sales will be made only if there is an increase in demand and prices for timber, an explanation is needed as to why increasing the dependency of locall~) communi ty mi 11 capaci ty and jobs which could resul t from an increase in sales of National Forest timber with revenues exceeding costs will contribute to , greater national or local welfare -- especially since increased dependency upon submarginal timber sales would seem to result in potentially greater com- munity instability due to uncertainties over continuation of a relatively high level of Federal funding to support a timber program with costs greater than revenues. TIle ROD should address this question. - 9 - 1867 "~.