Idaho Wilderness Hearings

Statement:

Mr. Drummond. Thank you, Senator McClure, Representative Craig. My name is William Drummond. I first want to say that I sup port the endangered Idaho wilderness core as put forth by the con servationist groups. Especially, I would urge that you consider the following areas: The Lost River Range, including Borah Peak; Sawtooth Wilderness additions; and also the White Clouds-Boulder area. In addition, in the Clearwater National Forest, I would urge you to consider the Great Burn-Cayuse Creek. I have a bachelor of science degree in forestry and worked for the Forest Service on the Kelly Creek District in the Clearwater National Forest. I helped in cruising or inventorying many of the areas which are under consideration for the wilderness. The land itself is very steep; it contains poor species for mer chantability; White Fir, Subalpine fir and Alpine Fir instead of White Pine, Ponderosa Pine and Douglas Fir which is especially merchantable. In addition, my second point is that as you listen to timber indus try representatives today, be aware of a recent Wall Street Journal article which appeared on July 19, 1983. I'd like to read a portion of that article. It begins, and I quote, 'With the influx of new businesses, many southerners now talk of timber with the reverence once reserved for cotton and tobacco. Last year, for instance, Georgia-Pacific Corp. moved its headquar ters to Atlanta from Portland, Oregon. Only two paper mills were started in the United States last year, and both are deep in Dixie.' In addition, one of the local representatives was quoted as saying: 'The timber companies are moving south. Cheap land, cheap labor, cheap taxes in an ideal growing condition.' The fact is that the timber industry in the Northwest is becom ing less and less important to the economy, as evidenced by deficit sales, the bailout of the timber companies from signed contracts and also, closer to home, the fact that there are no plans to rebuild the Riggins Sawmill which burned. In conclusion, I would like to say I support soft release, which, in my mind, is that the wilderness areas which are not designated wilderness areas at the end of this particular process will still be allowed to be considered wildernessa areas in the future.