Idaho Wilderness Hearings

Statement:

Mr. Gab. Hello, Senator McClure. My name is David Gab. I would like to go on — oh, excuse me. Hello, Senator McClure. My name is David Gab. I would like to go on record supporting Idaho's endangered wilderness core. This includes the areas known as Long Canyon, Selkirk Crest, Mallard, Larkins, et cetera. However, I am not limiting my support to that proposal. I firmly believe that the RARE I and II processes failed to provide adequate information concerning fish, wildlife and their habitat. For this reason, I find your desire to settle Idaho's wilderness question once and for all rather hasty and very alarming. This is not an issue that can be solved simply or rapidly. Allowing private interests including timber, mining, off-road vehicles, et cetera, to enter these areas prematurely may destroy critical habitat neces sary to sustain current populations of fish and wildlife, the irony in this is that we may be permitting this destruction without even knowing what is there. I am not advocating that all roadless areas immediately be desig nated as wilderness areas, but rather that any final decision be de layed until adequate evaluations can be conducted. On these grounds, I oppose any sort of hard release language that would eliminate the possibility of any future wilderness designations. Thank you for allowing me to express my concern. And I hope you understand the full impact of your decision when you develop your proposal. Thank you.