BILL, 1965 U.S. Congress. Senate. HEARINGS BEFORE THE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS UNITED STATES SENATE EIGHTY-EIGHTH CONGRESS SECOND SESSION ON H.R. 12633 AN ACT MAKING SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS FOR 36-838 Printed for the use of the Committee on Appropriations U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE WASHINGTON: 1964 HE SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS BILL FOR 1965 FRIDAY, AUGUST 14, 1964 U.S. SENATE, COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS, Washington, D.C. The committee met at 10 a.m., pursuant to call, in room S-128, U.S. Capitol, Hon. Carl Hayden (chairman of the committee) presiding. Present: Chairman Hayden, Senators Ellender, McClellan, Robertson, Holland, Pastore, Bartlett, Young, Allott, and Cotton. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR AND RELATED AGENCIES FOREST SERVICE FOREST PROTECTION AND UTILIZATION, FOREST LAND MANAGEMENT STATEMENTS OF G. D. FOX, ASSOCIATE DEPUTY CHIEF, FOREST SERVICE; B. H. PAYNE, ASSOCIATE DEPUTY CHIEF, FOREST SERVICE; W. M. IRBY, JR., BUDGET OFFICER, FOREST SERVICE; M. R. PETERSON, MANAGEMENT ANALYST, FOREST SERVICE; HARRY B. WIRIN, DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF FINANCE, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FOREST SERVICE SUPPLEMENTAL REQUEST Chairman HAYDEN. The committee will come to order, The committee will consider fiscal year 1965 supplemental estimates transmitted to Congress in House documents numbered 318, 337, and 338. Clerks of the subcommittees will insert the various justifications at the appropriate place in the hearing record. The first item we have is the U.S. Forest Service. The Forest Service requests a supplemental appropriation of $940,000 for forest land management. This sum is needed to repair, restore, and rehabilitate Forest Service improvements damaged and destroyed by floods last June in Montana and Idaho. The justification will be printed in the record. (The justification referred to follows:) JUSTIFICATION STATEMENT Forest protection and utilization, forest land management, 1965 "For an additional amount for 'Forest protection and utilization', for 'Forest land management', $940,000." EXPLANATION OF LANGUAGE This proposed supplemental appropriation of $940,000 would be used to repair, restore, and rehabilitate numerous Forest Service improvements destroyed or damaged by disastrous floods which struck a large area within and adjacent to national forests in Montana and Idaho between June 8 and June 15, 1964. PURPOSE AND NEED FOR SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDS National forests in the northern region of the Forest Service have experienced the most severe floods in their history. Recorded rainfall varying from 22 to 10 inches falling on a heavy snowpack triggered the disaster. Ten national forests in Montana and Idaho suffered moderate to severe damage. The most critically damaged was the Lewis and Clark National Forest in Montana. Three work centers and two cabins, including all of the facilities, were completely wiped out. Four ranger stations were flooded and two other work centers damaged. Three airfields used for fire and administrative work were damaged. Telephone lines, fire control structures, water systems, and various other administrative improvements sustained considerable damage. Tremendous debris jams resulted which will necessitate clearing of stream channels and stabilization of stream banks. Need for improvement restoration and rehabilitation is critical. The lack of airfields, communications, and administrative and fire control improvements in the flooded area will seriously hamper fire control efforts and increase the fire risk. Uprooted trees, twisted in big jams in fishing streams, will create high fire hazard areas when hot weather dries out needles and branches. These streams also must be cleared of logjams before floods occur next spring to prevent downstream damage to bridges, abutments, and roads. Other land treatment measures must be taken to avoid further damage to lands and improvements. The ranger stations, work centers, and cabins must be rehabilitated to provide vital facilities to support essential public service such as fire detection and control, administration of timber sales, and management and care of recreation areas. While considering the regular 1965 Department of Interior and related agencies appropriation bill, the conferees restored $700,000 for construction of recreation-public use facilities, primarily for repairs in connection with this flood damage. This action was sustained by both Houses. All damaged recreation facilities will be restored with these funds. Thus, nothing is being included herein for this purpose. |