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<br />" <br /> <br />"9UidQ1~S for l~nd managem:nt plans d~~op:d to achieve the.goals <br />of thQ ;ram WhiCh '-- (A) lnsure consl.atlOn of the economiC an~ <br />environmental aspects of the various systems of renewable resource(' , <br />management..... (16 U.S.C. 1604(g) (3). <br /> <br />(Emphasis added) <br /> <br />Section 6(g) also requires that as a prerequisite for timber harvesting: <br /> <br />.. the potential environmental, biological, esthetic, engineering, anp <br />economic impacts on each advertised sale area have been assessed, as <br />well as the consistency of the sale with the multiple use of the <br />general area." (16 use 1604(g) (3)(ii)). <br /> <br />Section 6 (k) deals \1i th the identi fication of lands unsuitable for timber pro- <br />duction: <br /> <br />"In developing land management plans pursuant to this ~ct, the <br />Secretary shall identify lands within the management area which are <br />not suited for timber production, considering physical, economic, <br />and other pertinent factors to the extent feasible, as determined by <br />the Secretary, and shall assure that, except for salvage sales or <br />sales necessi tated to protect other mul ti pIe-use values, no timber <br />harvesting shall occur on such lands for a period o( 10 years." (16 <br />use 1604(h)). <br /> <br />Thus, economics is one of the factors that must be given consideration in <br />identifying lands unsuitable for timber production under Section 6(k). <br />However, the Secretary is to consider "other pertinent factors" as well. <br /> <br />Section 6(k) also requires the Secretary to: <br /> <br />"formulate and implement, as soon as practicable, a process (or es- <br />timating long-terms (sic) costs and benefits to support the program <br />evaluation requirements of this Act. This process shall include <br />requirements to provide information on a representative sample basis <br />of estimated expenditures associated with the reforestation, timber <br />stand impJ;'ovement, and sale of timber from the National Forest Sys- <br />tem, "nd shall provide a comparison of these expenditures to the <br />return to the Government resulting from the sale of timber." (l6 USC <br />1604(1)). <br /> <br />DISCUSSION <br /> <br />The previously cited statutory references make it clear that Congress intended <br />that economic factors should be one of the considerations which shape the <br />development of the Renewable Resources Program and the national forest land <br />management plans which are a part of that Program. Just as clearly, Congress <br />also intended that non-economic factors be considered in the development of <br />these plans. <br /> <br />'-.' <br /> <br />18'70 <br /> <br />- 3 - <br /> <br />.. -.~ .... .,_""'. - ::"_~:: " .~.. .,. ..:~...., :':'" ."; '_.~:': :.. .:..:,...;"t:,. 0." <br />