Idaho Wilderness Hearings

Statement:

Mr. Blaes. My name is James H. Blaes. I'm retired and a private citizen; I'm here as a private citizen. First, let me express my ap 771 preciation for the opportunity to participate in these hearings. Briefly and specifically stated, Senator McClure and the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee are urged to, No. 1, in clude in any legislation the endangered Idaho wilderness core. No. 2, not include any hard release language in the wilderness bill that will prevent the later review of nondesignated wilderness land for protection as wilderness. Assure that at least 50 percent of Idaho's present 6.5 million acres of national forest roadless land be protect ed by wilderness designation in your legislation. Under normal conditions, I would probably not be at these hear ings. However, normal conditions do not presently prevail. While a strong supporter of the present administration and the Idaho con gressional delegation 2 years ago, I presently find myself disillu sioned and, as others, particularly the ladies, question the credibil ity of the present administration. While the ladies have their prob lem area, mine is the present questionable handling of the Nation's natural resources. The sale of this country's natural resources are irreversible; unlike timber contracts, these sales cannot be renego tiated. What is lost to the private sector is lost forever. Mr. Watt's statement that we cannot afford to lock up valuable timber and mining resources recalls as a youth my experience in visiting a large mining company's claims on Federal lands to drop sticks of dynamite in holes to move 500 cubic feet of dirt annually to keep the claim valid. No other mining work was ever done, and these claims are still valid to this day, 40 years later, to the best of my knowledge. This is locking up valuable mining resources for the mining companies. Approximately 6 years ago during the fuel shortage, my relatives in Evanston, Wyo., laughed and showed me capped natural gas and oil wells on Federal land because the oil companies said there was no pipeline. This, in effect, is locking up valuable oil resources for the petroleum companies. However, if natural gas and oil prices greatly increased, we would have the fastest pipelines in history. Moral: Congress should reform archaic mining laws and require actual production in 3 years from companies holding Federal claims and oil rights. Thank you very much.