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                         THE WHITE HOUSE
                  OFFICE OF THE PRESS SECRETARY
_________________________________________________________________
For Immediate Release                   Wednesday, March 10, 1993

      WORKING TOWARD NEW, BALANCED AND COMPREHENSIVE POLICY
         FOREST CONFERENCE SET FOR APRIL 2 IN PORTLAND, OR

After Years of Gridlock, Action to Save Jobs and Precious Resources

WASHINGTON -- Beginning the critical work to craft a balanced and comprehensive policy that will save jobs and the unique, precious resources of the old growth forests in the Northwest and northern California, President Clinton today (3/10) announced he will convene a Forest Conference in Portland, OR on April 2.

"Planning and good long-term management can help us protect jobs and the unique, old growth forests that are as much a part of our national heritage as the Grand Canyon or Yosemite," President Clinton said. "It is time to break the gridlock that has blocked action and bring all sides together to craft a balanced approach to the economic and environmental challenges we face."

The Forest Conference fulfills a commitment by President Clinton to the American people and to the residents of the Northwest and northern California to confront these issues with a thorough review and balanced policy. President Clinton will convene the conference with Vice President Al Gore and members of the cabinet, including the Secretaries of Interior, Agriculture, and Labor and the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.

"We have to take action to protect jobs and recognize the important economic contribution federal forest lands make to supporting local communities. We owe it to our children and to every generation that follows to preserve this unique treasure with a balanced, long-term policy that recognizes we don't have to sacrifice jobs to protect a unique natural resource," Vice President Gore said.

The President has directed his staff to work closely with the cabinet agencies to involve representatives of all parties affected by the management of forests in the Pacific Northwest and California. This will include but not be limited to the Governors of California, Oregon, and Washington, and Members of Congress from the affected states and from the leadership of key Congressional committees. And, the President has asked the Secretaries of Interior, Agriculture, and Labor to begin collecting information central to developing comprehensive, longterm policies for forest management and worker and community assistance.

############### NOTE TO MEDIA: ADDITIONAL DETAILS ON THE FOREST CONFERENCE -- LOGISTICAL AND SUBSTANTIVE -- WILL BE ANNOUNCED.