Idaho Wilderness Hearings

Statement:

Mr. Coulter. Hello, Senator. My name is Jeffery Coulter. I'm a resident of Clark Fork, and an owner of Action Camera Repair Business in Clark Fork. In my testimony I would like to support the following areas for wilderness designation: in the Idaho Panhandle Forest, Salmo Priest area, the Selkirk Crest, Long Canyon, and Scotchman's Peak. I will begin by telling you of an area that I'm very familiar with because it's in my backyard. I support the entire 20,720 acres that were recommended in the RARE II process for the Scotchman's Peak area. In addition to important wildlife habitat, this beautiful area supports grizzly bears, mountain goats, moose, and other large game. The economic and recreational aspects of Scotchman's are important to me and many other of my fellow Clark Fork residents. Recreationally, Scotchman's draws hunters, backpackers, and day packers to the community. As a small businessman, I want to protect those values to insure the Scotchman's is placed in a wilderness to help create a broad based economic growth in our area. The 20,720 acres proposal has no negative aspects with regard to our community, which has been primarily involved in logging and mining to this point. Recreation represents a much more stable aspect for our economy than both logging and mining that erratically support our community at this point, depending on the metal prices and the timber demand. The timber resource of Scotchman's are limited, and not very accessible. The timber is much more valuable as a resource and a component of the wilderness areas. Wilderness will be able to support the local economy for years to come in a stable manner unlike extracted resources. Thank you, Senator.