Idaho Wilderness Hearings

Statement:

Mr. Wenner. Thank you, Senator, for the opportunity of present ing testimony at this hearing. My name is Paul Wenner and I am here representing the Louisianna Pacific Corp. of Rexburg, Idaho. I have been professional forester for over 20 years. I endorse the Idaho Forest Industry Council's proposed Idaho Wilderness Act which would add another 600,000 acres to the exist ing 3.8 million we now have in wilderness in the State, and it would also declare that final RARE II environmental impact state ment for this State was legally and factually sufficient and would allow those lands to be managed without jeopardy. Our company employs directly and indirectly, through our em ployees and our contractors, over 85 people in this part of the State. Using a simple multiplier effect of two, this generates almost 6 million annually into the economy. Our industry needs a decision made on the RARE issues, so that they can be assured of a steady supply of raw materials for the future. Without such a decision we may see our industry drastically reduced in the future. The local geographic area currently has extensive areas of wil derness and wilderness type recreation. This is an area such as Grand Tetons, Yellowstone National Park, John D. Rockefeller Me morial Parkway, Sawtooth National Recreation Area, Craters of the Moon National Monument. The industry recommended wilder 581 ness areas of Lionhead, Worm Creek, the West Slopes of the Tetons, and Borah Peak. Areas that have been tied up through the RARE processes such as Bear Creek, Poker Peak, Caribou City, Stump Creek, Gams Mountain, Palisades, and Bald Mountain do not have the unique characteristics necessary for preserving as wilderness. The bound aries of these units of roads inundating into their course, which leaves us narrow corridors of roads within their boundaries. Items not identified that do not meet wilderness charateristics are items such as a cabin located on Bear Creek in the Bear Creek unit, mining and terracing on Big Elk Mountain within the Bear Creek unit, motorcycle trails in the Palisades, and motorcycle trails clear to the top of Garns Mountain, a power line within the boundaries of the Palisades unit, and the oldest Federal highway west of the Mississippi which was financed by Congress in 1856, the Lander Cutoff Road which goes right through the center of the Stump Creek unit. Insects are raising havoc with our forests in this area. Currently we have almost 80 percent of the pine has been killed by the Moun tain Pine Beetle, and the Western Spruce Budworm is almost single handedly eliminating all reproduction in the Douglas-fir stands. Extensively timbered areas in the previously mentioned units need to be managed and converted to a healthy state. The lands classified by the Forest Service as suitable timber lands within Palisades, Garns Mountains, Caribou City, Bear Creek, and Poker Creek, Poker Creek area, could easily sustain a mill the size of ours. Instead these lands have been tied up for nearly two decades. Action is needed now to release these lands for long needed mul tiple-use management. Thank you.