goats; and 3,290 for swine. This use under the 2 cents and 10 cents formula calculates to $692,891. GENERAL PROVISIONS CHANGES IN LANGUAGE The estimates include proposed changes in the language of this item as follows (new language underscored; deleted matter enclosed in brackets): "SEC. 201. Appropriations available to the Forest Service for the current fiscal year shall be available for: (a) purchase of not to exceed [ninety1 eight] one hundred and fifty passenger motor vehicles of which one hundred 2 and thirty-five shall be for replacement only, and hire of such vehicles; operation and maintenance of aircraft and the purchase of not to exceed 3 [four of which two shall be] two for replacement only; *** [and] (e) expenses of the National Forest Reservation Commission as authorized by section 14 of the Act of March 1, 1911 (16 U.S.C. 514); and (f) acqui4 sition of land and interests therein for sites for administrative purposes, pursuant to the Act of August 3, 1956 (7 U.S.C. 428a). [SEC. 203. No part of any appropriation to the Forest Service in this Act 5 shall be used for publicity or propaganda purposes to support or defeat legislation pending before the Congress.] 6 SEC. [204] 203. * * * The first and second changes in language would provide authority for the Forest Service to purchase 150 passenger motor vehicles of which 135 will be replacements. A complete justification of this need appears in the justification of estimates for motor vehicles. The third change in language would provide authority for the Forest Service to replace two aircraft. While only two replacements are proposed in the language, it is planned that two additional aircraft will be acquired by transfer from another Federal agency without cost. A justification of these needs appears in the justification of estimates for aircraft. The fourth change in language would transfer the authorization for purchase of sites needed for Forest Service activities from the "Forest protection and utilization" appropriation to "General provisions." In addition, the proposed new language would provide more authorization than the $100,000 presently provided in the appropriation for "Forest protection and utilization," which is insufficient to meet the needs of the construction program. The backlog of existing sites on national forest lands and those acquired in years past is now nearly all used. The number of sites needed for new buildings has been increasing each year, and the cost of land has been rising. The act of March 3, 1925, as amended (16 U.S.C. 555), cited in the present authorization, authorizes the use of not to exceed $50,000 in any one year for the purchase of lands needed for headquarters, ranger stations, dwellings, or for other authorized activities of the Forest Service. This has been interpreted as applying to appropriations other than "Forest protection and utilization" during the years in which the "Forest protection and utilization" appropriation item contains a special limitation. The act of August 3, 1956 (7 U.S.C. 428a), also authorizes this type of land purchase if provided for in the applicable appropriation or other law. Since the purchase of these sites is related primarily to the funds appropriated each year for construction, it is proposed to omit reference to the act of March 3, 1925, as amended, and to base the authority for acquisition of needed sites on the act of August 3, 1956. If requirements of the Forest Service construction prorgam are to be met in the most economical and orderly way it is not believed that a limitation should be established on the amount which may be used for acquisition of sites. When a satisfactory site is located, negotiations to purchase must be undertaken promptly to acquire the property at the greatest advantage to the Government. The priority among stations requiring sites cannot be determined in advance because of numerous variable factors. Because of market demand for development property in nearby communities and rapidly advancing prices, it is imperative that purchase of sites be consummated promptly upon decision as to need and location. A limitation in the authorization may mean that an advantageous site as to location and price might be lost, i.e., it may be off the market or unreasonably costly later when adequate authorization is available. The long-range Forest Service building program is the governing factor in site purchases. Obviously none will be purchased that are not needed for this program. The annual limitation as to amount does not afford the greatest economy in the long run-it actually has the following undesirable results in varying degrees: (a) Increased administrative costs; (b) Impeded orderly program progress; (c) Loss of most desirable sites; (d) Increased cost of sites. For the reasons given above, the new language does not propose a dollar limitation. The best estimate available at this time is that about $150,000-$300,000 will be required for site purchases in fiscal year 1962. The actual amount will depend primarily on the amount of site donations and fluctuations in land values. The fifth change in language proposes deletion of section 203 as this is now included in the general provisions section of the Government Matters Appropriation Act. The sixth change retains former section 204 without change except for renumbering of the section (from 204 to 203) due to the proposed elimination of section 203 of the 1961 appropriation act. LANGUAGE CHANGES Chairman HAYDEN. Certain language changes are recommended. Please discuss those for the committee. Mr. HENDEE. Mr. Chairman, the first and second changes would provide authority for the purchase of 150 passenger motor vehicles of which 135 will be replacements. The third change would provide authority to replace two aircraft, and two additional aircraft that would be acquired by transfer from another Federal agency without cost. The fourth change in language would transfer authorization for purchase of sites from the "Forest protection and utilization" appropriation to "General provisions." This would allow us more authorization than we now have for purchase of sites. I believe the fifth and sixth changes are routine, and are explained in our justifications. PASSENGER MOTOR VEHICLES AND AIRCRAFT Senator HAYDEN. The Forest Service requests authority to purchase 150 passenger motor vehicles, 135 for replacement, and two aircraft for replacement. The statement which you submitted in justification of this request will be placed in the record. (The statement referred to follows:) PASSENGER MOTOR VEHICLES AND AIRCRAFT PURCHASE OF PASSENGER MOTOR VEHICLES During fiscal 1962 it is proposed to replace 135 passenger cars, 11 of which are station wagons, all of which will meet replacement standards. It is also proposed to purchase 15 additional passenger cars. Based on the planned schedule of replacements and purchase of additions, the Forest Service will have a total of 626 passenger vehicles, exclusive of 4 buses, in fiscal 1962. On analysis of vehicle use and age pattern, it is expected that 140 units will meet or exceed replacement standards before replacements are received. As of June 30, 1960, the age and mileage classes of the Forest Service passenger vehicles were: Passenger motor vehicles are used by (1) forest officers in the protection, utilization, management, and development of the national forests and land utilization projects and in the program for control of forest pests; (2) research technicians on experimental forests and ranges, on field research projects and forest surveys; (3) foresters engaged in carrying out the laws providing for State and private forestry cooperation; and (4) regional office field-going administrative officers in performing, directing, and inspecting fieldwork. The Forest Service is essentially a field organization and its passenger motor vehicles are located mainly at regional, national forest, and ranger district headquarters, land utilization projects, and experimental forests and ranges. There are over 232 million acres within the exterior boundaries of the national forests and land utilization projects. About 435 million acres of State and private forest land are included within the areas which benefit from Federal participation in the cooperative forest program. Much of this area is without common carrier service, and most forest areas and research centers are remote from commercial travel routes, requiring extensive use of motor vehicles as a means of transportation. The major portion of transportation needs, particularly at forest regional and supervisor levels and at other larger headquarters, involves multiple passenger use and can be more expeditiously and economically met by use of sedans and station wagons than by other types of vehicles. JUSTIFICATION OF REPLACEMENTS Dependability of passenger vehicles is an important factor in keeping work programs on schedule and in meeting emergencies. Vehicle breakdowns while on field travel cause disruptions and delays in fieldwork as well as loss of effective worktime of employees. The continued use of overage equipment is undesirable from a safety standpoint since most of it is operated over rough, narrow winding roads in mountainous country under adverse conditions. This use results in excessive operating and repair expenses when vehicles reach or exceed replacement standards. In order to maintain passenger cars in a safe and satisfactory operating condition, it is the policy of the Forest Service to schedule periodic preventive maintenance inspections, services, and tuneups to reduce the necessity for costly major repairs and overhauls, and to minimize lost time resulting from field breakdowns. It is desirable to maintain a reasonable balance in the age class of the passenger vehicle inventory. The age class distribution is based upon conforming with replacement standards which recognize that some units will be retired under the age standard and others under the use standard. Prescribed replacement standards, although applicable, are not always appropriate for all Forest Service vehicles because of the wide range of operating conditions and the comparatively short field season in many of the national forests at higher elevations. Decision on replacement of passenger vehicles which reach replacement age is based on an appraisal of each unit. This involves a review of the history record combined with a mechanical inspection of the vehicle's condition and repair liability. When such appraisal indicates that the vehicle is satisfactory for further service without unreasonable repair expenditures, it is retained and assigned to lighter work, even though such action tends to upset the age standards for the fleet inventory. The vehicles selected for replacement are those which it has been determined cannot be operated another season without excessive repair expense. They are unsatisfactory for further use both as to safety and mechanical condition. The passenger car replacements requested for fiscal year 1962 exceed the number requested in fiscal year 1961 by 37 units. This is caused by a changing age pattern in the fleet structure due to increased vehicle use resulting from expanding activities primarily in timber sales, research, and public use of national forest recreational facilities. More vehicles are expected to reach or exceed prescribed replacement standards in fiscal year 1962 than in fiscal year 1961. The increased replacement authorization to a total of 135 units compared with 98 in fiscal year 1961 is within the normal annual replacement standards prescribed by General Services Administration. Essentially all passenger vehicles are pooled for use by all activities with replacement of pooled units financed from a working capital fund. All appropriations reimburse this fund in ratio to use of vehicles on activities financed by the respective appropriations. JUSTIFICATION OF THE ADDITIONAL VEHICLES The Forest Service analyzes current work plans and programs in determining its overall passenger car requirements. This analysis includes a careful study of the number of vehicles needed at each field station, using as a guiding principle the ownership of only the minimum number of dependable units required to serve programs for which funds are budgeted. Also, it is Forest Service policy to utilize interagency motor pools or commercial car rental services to the fullest practicable extent. Passenger car use is restricted and is integrated with various activities so as to attain good utilization of all vehicles. During the past 10 years, there has been a steady reduction in the number of passenger cars owned by the Forest Service. This has been possible because of better utilization practices and through the assistance of interagency motor pools. Because of this reduction, it is becoming more difficult to meet requirements for passenger car transportation resulting from increasing job loads. Expanding activities in research, timber sales, public use of recreational facilities, fire protection and other land management activities, are increasing the need for more passenger cars. These increasing needs are being met in some areas through greater use of interagency motor pool vehicles. These pools, however, serve only very small parts of the total land area administered by the Forest Service; therefore, increasing requirements for passenger car transportation in several areas cannot be fully met except through purchase of additional units for the Forest Service fleet. REPLACEMENT AND ADDITION OF AIRCRAFT The 1962 estimates propose replacement of two airplanes and addition of two aircraft. The Forest Service currently has 56 aircraft: Light reconnaissance airplanes_ Medium and heavy cargo and transport airplanes (11 medium; 3 heavy). 2421 23 The 26 reconnaissance and transport airplanes are used primarily to transport administrative personnel, firefighters, smokejumpers, equipment and supplies to remote and inaccessible areas where commercial service is inadequate or not available for detection and suppression of forest fires. They are used to locate and survey timber stand and vegetation conditions such as insect infestations, blowdown, diseased areas and undesirable species, and to appraise resources and damage and evaluate effectiveness of control. The helicopter is used for training forest personnel in tactical use of helicopters and for experimental development on techniques and equipment for direct tactical suppression of forest fires. The torpedo bomber airplanes are used as air tankers for bulk dropping of retardants on forest fires, training Forest Service personnel as lead plane pilots and developing and testing new improved methods of dropping fire retardants. The 23 T-34B "lead" airplanes are used primarily by air attack bosses to direct and control the dropping of fire retardants on forest fires by more than 150 tanker airplanes. It will be necessary to replace two reconnaissance airplanes. These aircraft have reached an age and total number of flying hours on the airframe where it is uneconomical to overhaul or modernize them to meet the airworthiness requirements of civil air regulations. Forest Service aircraft are operated to a large extent over rough mountainous terrain where landing fields are poor and scarce. It is especially important that these aircraft be maintained for maximum performance and dependability. The proposed replacement aircraft are needed to direct and control air attack on forest fires by privately owned airtankers and helicopters, to facilitate detection patrol and reconnaissance, to conduct experiments and field tests of new aerial attack devices and techniques, and to transport smokejumpers, firefighters, equipment and supplies in remote areas where airplane services of commercial operators are inadequate or unavailable. In addition, they are needed for locating, surveying and appraising resources, damages and effectiveness of control. The two additional aircraft requested will be large cargo and personnel transport airplanes. Suitable airplanes are available, and will be obtained on transfer, without reimbursement from the military services. The need for these additions results from the rapid increase in use of aircraft primarily for fire suppression and the lack of suitable aircraft available from commercial sources. During the 1960 season four well-trained, highly mobile, self-sufficient 30-men firefighting crews were established at strategically located bases in the Western States. These crews are transported by airplane to bolster suppression forces when initial attack fails, or critical conditions develop anywhere in the West. Commercial sources are not always able to provide timely and suitable airplane services required for the mobile crews, and the transportation of overhead and firefighters as needed. The large cargo and transport airplanes will also be used for dropping smokejumpers and paracargo. Increased use of jumpers and rapid retrieving of them by helicopters for additional jumps requires additional airplanes for this type of work. Commercial aircraft services may not be available when needed, or may not be equipped with the needed specialized equipment, or may be inadequate to meet special requirements. Since Forest Service use is seasonal, commercial operators must usually depend on other sources for their principal income. Consequently few private owners have the right type of aircraft or are able to modify them for special firefighting service. It is necessary therefore to depend primarily on Government-owned equipment to meet these special services which the Government-owned fleet is planned to provide. COMMITTEE RECESS Chairman HAYDEN. We have some other Senators who would like to ask some questions, and maybe some other matters will come up, so I will ask you to stand in recess until 10 o'clock tomorrow morning. (Whereupon, at 4:45 p.m., Thursday, May 4, 1961, the subcommittee recessed, to reconvene at 10 a.m., Friday, May 5, 1961.) |