Idaho Wilderness Hearings

Statement:

Ms. Weitfle. Thank you, Senator McClure. I am Marion Weitfle of Idaho Falls, Idaho. I have lived in Idaho since 1945. Prior to my coming to Idaho, I had never had the privilege of seeing a wilder 772 ness area as the State of Michigan, where I lived, had been lum bered off before the turn of the century. I strongly recommend wilderness classification for the Gams Mountain, Palisades, the Northern Lemhis, the Borah Peak, and the Great Burn Area of the Clearwater. Let's keep some of Idaho's wilderness areas pristine. I have hiked and skied through these areas and believe they warrant wilderness status. If the timber industry would start tree farming now, they could supply their own needs early in the 21st century. Oil and gas explo ration in nearly inaccessible areas is not only inefficient but costly. Animal habitat is disturbed by the equipment and noise that ac company such operations. Let's use the developed resources and alternate energy to fuel our insatiable and often very wasteful use of these natural re sources. Thank you.