Mr. BURRIS. NO; the funds would be held in reserve if the workload failed to materialize. Mr. STEED. The same thing would be true in the case of the mint if the situation developed? Mr. BELIN. That would be true throughout the operation. DATING OF SILVER DOLLARS Mr. CONTE. In answer to the chairman's question in regard to minting the additional silver dollars with the 1935 date, you used the argument the date might look a little different and, therefore, it would become a collector's item. Do you not save the old dies? Mr. WIGGEN. No; we do not save them that long. They have to be destroyed at the end of each year. Mr. BELIN. That is a statutory requirement. Mr. CONTE. That is interesting because I worked as a machinist in a shop that used to make dies and we kept them in what we called a crib for 20 or 30 years and you could always pull one out and start production immediately. Mr. GARY. That suggestion that they put the 1935 date on it was not my suggestion. I said the suggestion had been made and I was inquiring as to what the effect of it would be. Mr. CONTE. Let the record so show. Mr. GARY. If there are no further questions, thank you, gentlemen. Mr. BELIN. Thank you, sir. Mr. GARY. We are very happy you are making such marked progress on the increased production and certainly this committee wants to cooperate as much as possible because it is a very important matter. We have a very great shortage and I am getting letters on it frequently from banks and merchants, and I hope we can continue this progress and take care of the situation as far as possible until the new mint is built. Mr. BELIN. We know of the committee's concern and you can be sure ours is just as great. Mr. CONTE. I would like the record to show I was so concerned I was hoping they would not mint those 45 million silver dollars. B. H. PAYNE, ASSOCIATE DEPUTY CHIEF, FOREST SERVICE M. R. PETERSON, MANAGEMENT ANALYST, FOREST SERVICE Mr. KIRWAN. The committee will come to order. The first item is that of the Forest Service, Department of Agriculture. Mr. KIRWAN. $940,000 is requested to repair and rehabilitate Forest Service improvements, destroyed or damaged by the recent floods in Montana and Idaho. We shall insert the item from House Document 338 and the justifications. (The matter referred to follows:) FOREST SERVICE FOREST PROTECTION AND UTIIZATION, FOREST LAND MANAGEMENT "For an additional amount for 'Forest protection and utilization,' for 'Forest land management,' $940,000." 60 60 88 This proposed supplemental appropriation will be used to repair, restore, and rehabilitate numerous Forest Service improvements destroyed or damaged by disastrous floods which affected a large area within and adjacent to national forests in Montana and Idaho between June 8 and June 15, 1964. 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 2% to 101⁄2 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 streambanks. 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. Justification for supplemental estimate, fiscal year 1965, for "Forest protection and utilization, forest land management" An increase of $940,000 is needed to repair, restore, and rehabilitate Forest Service improvements damaged by the disastrous Montana-Idaho flood of June 1964. This increase would be used for National Forest Protection and Management projects as follows: 1. Wildlife habitat management, $136,500 This increase would be used to restore favorable fish habitat and feed conditions where floodwaters severely scoured the streams. This work would consist of debris removal, channel clearing, installing riprap, or otherwise creating pools and resting spots on 21 of the most critically scoured stream areas. It is more economical and prudent to do this work at the same time equipment is in the area doing other restoration work. 2. Soil and water management, $440,000 This increase would be used for stream channel restoration and clearing and streambank soil stabilization on nine national forests. The flood left tremendous log and debris jams in many streams. About 43 miles of stream clearing must be accomplished to eliminate hazardous logjams at an estimated cost of $110,000. Restoration of channels and streambank stabilization (slides, washouts, etc.) must be accomplished on about 54 miles of stream to avoid further damage to lands and improvements. This work will cost about $300,000. Some streambanks are extremely hazardous due to the undercutting by floodwaters. Public notice has been given asking fishermen, hikers, and others in these areas to exercise extreme care near streambanks and warning of the possibility of bank sloughing. Some damage to 11 existing soil stabilization projects was experienced. An estimated $30,000 is needed to restore these projects. 3. Structural improvements for fire and general purposes (construction and maintenance), $363,500 This increase would be used to restore administrative structural improvements and facilities on six national forests as follows: (a) Administrative and fire control improvements: 9 sewer and water systems___ 4 pastures and fences.. 1 office__ 1 garage_ 1 barn. 5 cabins. 14 miscellaneous small improvements.. (b) 66 miles of telephone line-- (c) 3 airfields___ Total $39, 000 20, 640 23, 500 22, 360 13, 480 27, 520 15,000 106,000 96, 000 363, 500 Mr. KIRWAN. Mr. Fox, we shall insert your general statement in the record at this point. (The statement follows:) STATEMENT ON THE NEED FOR SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION FOK NATIONAL FOREST STRUCTURES AND RESOURCE RESTORATION AS A RESULT OF THE JUNE 1964 FLOODS IN MONTANA AND IDAHO Ten national forests suffered serious damages from the most severe floods in their history. |