Idaho Wilderness Hearings

Statement:

ECONOMIST, IDAHO MINING ASSOCIATION Mr. Peterson. Thank you for the opportunity to appear before the committee on a question regarding wilderness issues which are vital to Idaho. I am Jack Peterson, director and chief economist of the Idaho Mining Association. The association represents 15 operating mining companies and 21 exploration companies, mining, processing, ex ploring for mineral resources in Idaho. Sound and natural resource management is the result of multi ple management options based on multiple use concepts. To limit natural resources to a single use precludes management options for both current and future generations. We believe that limited resource allocations is essentially un sound. The policy of the Idaho Mining Association regarding na tional forest wilderness in Idaho is that Idaho has enough natural forests designated as wilderness. In fact, more than any other State in the United States except Alaska and, therefore, we will oppose additions to wilderness designations of natural forest lands in Idaho. The association will support the hard release of all lands in Idaho in wilderness study for further planning status to full multiuse status. To deny access to potentially valuable economic resources will weaken future options for Idaho's economy and there are profound national security consequences that could result from denying access for exploration and development for minerals, oil, and gas which may underlie areas under study for wilderness designation. Dedication of additional Forest Service lands to nonproductive wilderness status also has severe potential revenue implications which would reduce the income of county and State govern ments in Idaho. Thank you for the opportunity to present our views to the com mittee. We will have companies presenting individual testimony at this and other hearings.