Idaho Wilderness Hearings

Statement:

Mr. Wagstaff. Good afternoon. My name is Peter Wagstaff and I am an attorney in private practice here in Coeur d’Alene. I am speaking on my own behalf today. First I would like to stress my support for Federal wilderness designation for the following areas in the Idaho Panhandle National Forest, Salmo-Priest, Long Canyon, Selkirk Crest, Scotchman's Peak, and the Mallard-Larkin. I further support the wilderness designation throughout the remainder of Idaho proposed by the Idaho Conservation League. Second, I would like to urge you, Senator McClure, to formulate any Idaho wilderness bill in conjunction with the Senators from Washington and Montana so that wilderness designation is resolved for those areas which strattle the State line. I refer in particular to the Salmo-Priest and Scotchman's Peak areas. Both of these regions were recommended for wilderness by the U.S. Forest Service in RARE II. The office of Senator Baucus of Montana has told me that the Idaho side of the Scotchman's Peak area will not be considered by the Montana omnibus bill, which is still in its drafting stages. That area encompasses Scotchman's Peak itself together with a number of other mountains in the Scotchman's proposed wilderness area. Therefore, this region should be considered as part of any Idaho wilderness bill. The Washington delegation has recently proposed Senate bill 837 which will consider for wilderness the Salmo-Priest area recommended by the Forest Service for wilderness in RARE II. But as I understand it, that bill will not consider the Salmo-Priest area on the Idaho side of the forest. As a result, both these areas require consideration by our delegation through any Idaho wilderness bill. I would strongly urge you to work jointly with the WashingtonMontana delegations in formulating an Idaho wilderness bill which encompasses both these regions. It would be embarrassing to all of us if we allowed all or part of these spectacular areas to be overlooked simply because we expected the citizens and congressional delegations from other States to do our work for us. Thank you very much.