Idaho Wilderness Hearings

Statement:

Mr. Anderson. My name is John Anderson and I currently live in Sandpoint, Idaho, where I own a second home on Lake Pend Oreille. My prior residence was in Santa Barbara, Calif., where I worked for the university as a computer systems analyst. My wife and I plan to retire in northern Idaho. And I have come here today to urge you to preserve the unique beauty of this region so that we and others like us can enjoy it in our old age. Idaho's national forest drew us to the area, especially the beauty of the wilderness areas. Our neighbors and we are concerned that special interests will denegrate that recreational potential for short-term economic considerations, for recreational assets of the Panhandle are the economic face for our future economy. The lure of wilderness is vital to continue to draw tourists into Idaho. I urge the Senator to design his legislation so that the maximum wilderness area in the State is preservd for future generations. The Endanderged Idaho Wilderness Core should be preserved in tact, especially the rugged Long Canyon-Selkirk Crest which I have personally hiked and Salmo-Priest which is our primary next recreational goal. It would be a loss to all of the economy of the Panhandle if roads intruded into these unique wilderness areas. Finally, I want to strongly object to hard release language for any Idaho wilderness bill. The citizens of this State are opposed to any plan that would lock out our ability to decide what is best for us in the future. Not only would hard release prevent us from correcting any mistakes that we as falable humans might make in the current selection process, but it would also disenfranchise future generations. Thank you.