This Assistant Secretary is responsible for the U.S. Forest Service, which manages 190 million acres of National Forest in 44 states. Much of that land contains timber, oil, gas and minerals, as well as watershed, wilderness and wildlife habitat. The Assistant Secretary will play a key role in determining the development status of some 60 million acres of unspoiled forest whose fate has not yet been decided.

Crowell's past actions convinced environmentalists that he could not properly balance the two goals of conservation and development. He spent his entire professional career as an attorney and advocate for Louisiana Pacific and other timber companies that depend heavily on national forests for timber production. He led efforts to thwart measures designed to protect federal forests, such as restrictions on the use of dangerous herbicides, limits on the size of clear cuts, and requirements for buffer zones along streams.

Worst of all was the evidence that Crowell was personally involved in illegal price fixing activities by Louisiana Pacific's Ketchikan Pulp subsidiary. Senator Kennedy noted during the confirmation hearings that "in at least seven instances documented so far, it is clear that Mr. Crowell was significantly involved in occurrences, negotiations and contracts found by the courts to be violations of the anti-trust laws." Nomination confirmed 72-25 (Republicans 51-0, Democrats 21-25); May 20, 1981. NO is the pro-environment vote.