Idaho Wilderness Hearings

Statement:

Ms. Wood. Thank you, Senator and panel members and ladies 644 have witnessed restoration procedures in mining today and, along with the general public, find these practices completely acceptable. In fact, using the resources of our land, then restoring the scenic value of that land, it responsible stewardship. Yes, we do care for the environmental aspect of our land. We have pride in the unique beauty of our State. Our State parks ex hibit this every bit as well as national parks. State forests and parks in the east and the south are beautifully managed for the public. They have no lockup of their lands by the Federal Govern ment. Wilderness is not an investment in the future as some would have us believe. Not 1 single acre once designated wilderness has ever been returned to multiple use, nor can we see in any of the long-range plans that it ever will be. Rather than putting our re sources in a bank account for future use, it's like putting them in a vault and sealing it forever. Forever will not benefit the children of Idaho. Areas under consideration for wilderness designation in my dis trict include over a 119,000 acres in the Borah Peak area of Challis National Forest, undetermined acreage in the Italian Peak area northwest of Dubois, as well as over a 168,000 acres in Challis and Salmon National Forests, and most of 450,000 acres along the Mon tana border that would be impacted by the 18-mile wilderness study area. This State faced a financial crises in the wake of loss of expected revenue from timber, mining, and agriculture this past year. How ever, State endowment lands brought in over $6.5 million. We need to be allowed to use all the resources from the land within our State boundaries to meet the needs of the people of Idaho. The people of district 20 support proposal No. 1: No additional wilderness. We agree with Congressman Bob Smith of Oregon and his constituency when in answer to his questionnaire they said, more wilderness? No thanks, by a vote of over 73 percent. A similar survey conducted by Senator Symms shows that 86.7 percent of those answering think Idaho has enough or too much wilderness now. District 20 also brings this message, Senator McClure; 3.8 million acres is more than enough; 20 years of study of roadless areas is more than enough. We ask you kindly to resolve the question in favor of no more wilderness. For the sake of the economic health of Idaho, let our people be free to develop the natural resources of our State. Thank you.