Idaho Wilderness Hearings

Statement:

CO. Mr. Costello. I am here for Mr. Barker. My name is Ben Costello. I work for Anaconda Minerals Co., an operating company of Atlantic Richfield Co. Atlantic Richfield is primarily a domestic producer of oil, gas, and minerals. Therefore, we are very concerned with the management of our Nation's public lands. We believe it is essential for the delegation to decide on a wilderness proposal which will provide a balance of multiple uses. Anaconda believes that areas should be explored for their energy and mineral potential prior to permanent placement in a highly restrictive single-use management prescription, such as wilderness. When a wilderness system was first contemplated, proponents emphasized that only a limited amount of land was to be included and therefore, the impact on mineral resources minimized. The first 14.3 million acres that were designated as wilderness in 1964 were considered an almost miniscule fraction of the Nation's land. While Congress has effectively prevented lawful mineral activity from proceeding in wilderness areas, in addition, through various appropriations bills, it has effectively extended the closure of lands from any use to another 40 million acres of land generally under wilderness consideration, thus preempting the land-use decisionmaking process. Land placed in wilderness remains so in perpetuity until Congress determines otherwise. It seems only reasonable that land unsuitable for wilderness be returned to multiple-use management in perpetuity until Congress determines otherwise. We are not opposed to the concept of wilderness designation; however, we are opposed to lands being tied up in de facto wilderness. When Congress makes its decisions as to which areas should be designated wilderness, there is a concurrent responsibility to release areas deemed unsuitable for wilderness to other uses. The agencies responsible for managing lands need to have some certainty as to how they should manage these lands. Anaconda believes that continual wilderness study of RARE II lands must be terminated and that the legal sufficiency of the RARE II process must be statutorily affirmed.