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                                                      PRINTER'S NO. 1244

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA


HOUSE RESOLUTION

No. 104 Session of 1999


        INTRODUCED BY LYNCH, JADLOWIEC, SURRA, HUTCHINSON, McILHATTAN,
           FARGO, GEIST, GIGLIOTTI, HALUSKA, HERSHEY, JAMES, LESCOVITZ,
           ORIE, PESCI, READSHAW, SAYLOR, SEYFERT, STERN AND TRAVAGLIO,
           MARCH 25, 1999

        REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON RULES, MARCH 25, 1999

                            A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

     1  Urging the support of proper timber harvesting as a management
     2     tool to ensure better forest health in the Commonwealth of
     3     Pennsylvania.

     4     WHEREAS, Timber production is the fourth largest industry in
     5  the United States, and Pennsylvania ranks seventh nationally;
     6  and
     7     WHEREAS, The Allegheny National Forest encompasses 513,000
     8  acres in four counties of this Commonwealth; and
     9     WHEREAS, The health of the national forests in Pennsylvania
    10  and the economies of rural communities are at risk under current
    11  national forest management practices; and
    12     WHEREAS, The threat of fire, insects and disease endangers
    13  the health, happiness and well-being of the citizens of this
    14  Commonwealth; and
    15     WHEREAS, National forest timber programs have been almost
    16  completely eliminated in this Commonwealth; and
    17     WHEREAS, The proper uses of timber harvest as a management


     1  tool can effectively contribute to restoring the health of
     2  forests; and
     3     WHEREAS, The proper use of timber harvest as a management
     4  tool can help reduce dangerously high levels of fuels resulting
     5  in the potential of catastrophic fires; and
     6     WHEREAS, Prescribed fires used without the complement of
     7  timber harvest often destroy economically viable, renewable
     8  resources and violate air quality and visibility standards; and
     9     WHEREAS, Better national forest timber programs are essential
    10  for proper stewardship of Pennsylvania's forests and improvement
    11  of the health, condition and structure of the natural
    12  environment; therefore be it
    13     RESOLVED, (the Senate concurring), That the General Assembly
    14  of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania respectfully urge that:
    15         (1)  The United States Forest Service Chief and the
    16     Pennsylvania Congressional delegation support proper timber
    17     harvesting as a management tool to ensure better forest
    18     health in Pennsylvania;
    19         (2)  The Pennsylvania Congressional delegation support
    20     strategies to reverse the decline of forest management
    21     programs and to reach a more effective program level by the
    22     year 2000; and
    23         (3)  The Pennsylvania Congressional delegation support
    24     Congressional efforts to improve efficiency, effectiveness
    25     and accountability of national forest management;
    26  and be it further
    27     RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to
    28  each member of Congress from Pennsylvania.


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