Idaho Wilderness Hearings

Statement:

Ms. Clark. Senator McClure and members of the committee. I am a resident and part owner of 40 acres in the Selkirk range near Priest River, Idaho. I am a resident and part owner of 40 acres in the Sel- kirk range near Priest River, Idaho. I have moved to Idaho—I was born in New York City and have moved here because of what Idaho has to offer in the way of wilderness and undeveloped land 393 and have settled here and plan to stay here. I feel that at the mini- mum, 10 areas of the Endangered Idaho Wilderness Core need per- manent wilderness protection now as key habitat for many barren and endangered forms of wildlife like the woodland caribou, grizzly bear, gray wolf, big horn sheep, mountain goat, cougar in addition, too, there are other prize salmon and trout streams. If at all possible, I think all 6V2 million acres of roadless areas in Idaho should be protected as wilderness in spite of the fact that many wilderness opponents speak to the portion of Idaho lands that are already designated as wilderness. But when we consider the percent of Federal lands protected as wilderness, Idaho is unique in containing such a large portion of undeveloped, roadless land. And I feel it is our responsibility to protect this remaining land in the national interest. I would also like to make the point that virgin timber has become a hated term in the forest industry. The very notion of pro- tecting this resource is considered a foolish refusal to capitalize on the high value of a rare and disappearing level of quality in the lumber business.