Idaho Wilderness Hearings

Statement:

Mr. Blanford. Senator, my name is Robert Blanford. I am the resource manager for Louisiana-Pacific's Moyie Springs Sawmill. Our recommendation for Long Canyon is that it remain in the timber base. Long Canyon contributes a conservative 3 million board feet annually to the allowable cut on the Bonners Ferry district. Without Long Canyon, the allowable cut will drop from 35 million feet per year to 32 million feet per year; an 8V2-percent reduction. The sale program on the Bonners district 10 years ago was 54 million board feet. As the timber base has been restricted, the allowable cut has declined. A 3-million foot reduction in the allowable cut will mean roughly a loss of 23 direct jobs for Boundary County and a resulting loss of over $400,000 annually in wages, and also a corresponding loss of approximately $150,000 each year in stumpage revenues for Government. Boundary County as a result will receive less money; roads and schools will have to get by with less money or the local people will have to pay the additional taxes to keep at current levels. Long Canyon is an integral part of the timber base for the forest industry, and managed under miltiple-use objectives will continue to yield timber crips and other forest values for generations to come. We also support the existing management plans for the Selkirk Crest. We desire to keep it as primitive recreation instead of wilderness. Louisiana-Pacific has terminated the random length sawmill at Moyie Springs and continues to operate the studmill. The studmill by itself could utilize more wood than is sold on the Bonners Ferry district. We would still consume the same amount of wood as in past years by just adding one shift to the studmill. We shouldn't lock up these resources from future generations, especially considering what has already been set aside in Idaho. The need for timber off Forest Service lands will be more critical in the future with the over cutting occurring on much of the private lands. Thank you.