Idaho Wilderness Hearings

Statement:

Mr. Amato. My name is Al Amato. I'm a cabinetmaker and in the carpet business. I live in Naples, Idaho, in Boundary County. My wife and I own about 14 acres in the Naples area which we operate organically. And that produces our food for the year. I favor a wilderness classification for Long Canyon for a number of reasons which are economic, social, and esthetic. But it's come to my attention that problems of a wilderness classification for Long Canyon argue that in a wilderness, disease and pest outbreaks cannot be adequately controlled due to the lack of roads in the area and that such outbreaks can be a threat to adjacent timber lands. This argument has already been addressed in the Wilderness Act which gives the Secretary of Interior wide latitude to deal with such natural disasters. In section 4, it says: 353 Such measures may be taken as may be necessary in the control of fire, insects, and disease subject to such conditions as the Secretary deems desirable. Aircraft, motorized equipment, and temporary roads may all be used although the Federal agencies use the minimum necessary tool first. Long Canyon is surrounded by roads which make containing pest and disease outbreaks sufficient and economical. But it is retaining Long Canyon as a wilderness that the greatest benefits in disease and pest control for the timber industry may be found. Long Canyon provides a source of genetically resistant timber varieties to disease and pest degradation. Disease and pest infestation follows the cycles that are beyond man's control. The most that can be hoped for is to make use of the dying timber. But disease, insects, and death are part of the forest ecosystem. By maintaining Long Canyon as a wilderness, we can be assured of a living laboratory for the study of disease and pest cycles.