Board of Supervisors
County of Lassen

District 1 Claud R. Neely

District 2 Jim Chapman

District 3 Jean P. Loubet

District 4 Brian Dahle

District 5 Lyle L. Lough

June 17, 1997

(#970617A.LLL)

Honorable Don Young, Chairman
Committee on Resources
Washington, DC 20515

Dear Chairman Young:

Please consider this letter as our formal support of HR 858, the "Quincy Library Group Forest Recovery and Economic Stability Act of 1997." As participants in this effort, Lassen County feels that this legislation will provide an array of economic and environmental benefits for Lassen County and the surrounding areas. Our board has been a supporter of this effort and recently reaffirmed that support during Board discussions with Mr. Tom Nelson, Quincy Library Group member, at on of our May meetings.

We believe that the Quincy Library Group Community Stability Proposal as embodied in HR 858 holds great promise for the citizens we represent in Lassen County. Improvement of forest conditions on the Lassen National Forest has long been a concern for our communities. Many of our constituents are economically dependent upon the health of this Forest, some through timber harvesting, some through income derived from forest-based tourism and some through other fee-type uses. Our local Native American tribes and pioneer families value these forest lands for cultural purposes. Catastrophic loss of these forest areas through forest fire or other calamity would be an invaluable loss to our communities -- environmentally, economically, and culturally.

The Lassen County Board of Supervisors believes that HR 858 holds great promise for our citizens and our communities. We urge your continued support and pursuit of passage of this legislation. Feel free to have your staff contact us if there is anything Lassen County might do to assist in this effort.

Sincerely,

FOR THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

/s/
Lyle L. Lough, Chairman

LLL:vel

cc:

Honorable Barbara Boxer
Honorable Dianne Feinstein
Honorable Vic Fazio