POW Chamber position on

Roughly 80% of Prince of Wales Island (“Island”) is within the Tongass National Forest (“Forest Service”). Most members of the Prince of Wales Chamber of Commerce (“Chamber”) and residents of the Island rely directly or indirectly on the natural resources managed by the Forest Service. The Chamber is aware of the prohibitions imposed by the “Roadless Rule” policy which prevent the Forest Service from meeting one of its core goals of “Sustainable Multiple Use: Managing for diverse activities like recreation, tourism, subsistence harvesting, and sustainable timber, balancing economic and ecological needs.” At present, the Agency is unable to meet the resource needs of its stakeholders in the timber and mining industries, which are vital to the Island’s economy.

The Chamber supports efforts to remove the Tongass National Forest from the national restrictions of the “Roadless Rule” and return management to the Forest Service, promoting sustainable use and conservation.