Statement:
Ms. Fritz. Senator McClure and friends: My name is Jane Fritz. Today, I am testifying on behalf of the Idaho Conservation League in regards to the hard release language that has been outlined in the Idaho Forest Industries Council wilderness proposal. As conservationists, we feel this hard release language is shorsighted and contrary to sound planning. It would essentially eliminate wilderness as a legitimate multiple use from future Forest Service management activities. Hard release is inconsistent with the congressional mandates that have been thoughtfully adopted to guide the Forest Service in their management of our national forests. The Multiple Use and Yield Act, the Wilderness Act and the National Forest Management Act all recognize the consistency of wilderness with multiple use management. We feel these laws are sufficient in providing ibr the periodic review of roadless areas and 35 for allowing management decisions to be made by the Forest Service—the agency who has the expertise to do so. Wilderness does not conflict with the multiple use principal because it provides wildlife and fish habitat, affords watershed protection, offers recreational opportunities and supplies forage for livestock. Only one multiple use—timber harvesting—is incompatible with wilderness. The Idaho Conservation League supports the National Environmental Policy Act sufficiency language which precludes any legal challenge to the RARE II process in Idaho. And we request that soft release language be included in your bill, Senator. By soft release we mean allowing roadless lands not classified as wilderness in your legislation to be handled through the regular multiple use planning process. The Forest Service would retain the option to manage lands for timber or any other resource, including wilderness, in future forest plans. We believe this would be the least complicated, most cost-effective and only equitable approach for all parties concerned. Land in nonprotected status would be reviewed with every updated 10-year forest plan with careful consideration to all management options. Soft release language would also insure adequate lands for the recreational needs of future generations.
"Fritz, Jane", Idaho Wilderness Hearings, Center for Digital Inquiry and Learning (CDIL), University of Idaho Library, https://cdil.lib.uidaho.edu/wilderness-hearings/items/aug-16-1983-fritz-jane.html