Plumas County Office of Education
PO Box 11309
Quincy, CA 95971
916/283-6500

June 10, 1997

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

Dear Representative Young:

We are writing to you to express our strong support for HR 858, the "Quincy Library Group Forest Recovery and Economic Stability Act of 1997". Timber dependent school districts like ours see this legislation and the efforts of the Quincy Library Group as a positive step toward resolving many of the conflicts and issues that result from the inextricable link between the land and its resources and the social and economic well-being in our communities.

The development of HR 858 has resulted in the introduction of a bill that incorporates components of economic stability and environmental protection and enhancement that is precedent-setting for the northern Sierras. Quincy Library Group members and the communities and constituencies they represent have worked diligently for nearly four years to implement a solution that will work for people and for the land.

As educators, we are given the task of teaching our youth to be good thinkers and problem solvers. The Quincy Group has shown that conflict resolution is possible, that cooperative efforts do not have to diminish philosophical diversity, and that given the opportunity, communities can come together and solve economic and environmental problems-- something that Congress and the Clinton Administration has specifically asked of rural forest communities.

We strongly support your continued efforts to seek passage of HR 858.

Sincerely,

/s/ William Cottini

Plumas Co. OE

cc: Senator Barbara Boxer
Senator Dianne Feinstein
Representative Vic Fazio