Idaho Wilderness Hearings

Statement:

Mr. Buck. Senator McClure, my name is Brian Buck. And I represent Getty Oil Co. And we at Getty appreciate this opportunity to testify today. We do not quarrel with the concept of the wilderness system. Indeed, it is desirable to preserve some of our Nation's lands in their natural state. In fact, the Federal Government has already done so with nearly 80 million acres of U.S. lands. However, we believe that any wilderness legislation should mandate that all Government-owned lands considered for inclusion in the wilderness system should first be assessed for their mineral and hydrocarbon potential. Only then can intelligent choices be made between the value to society of developing the natural resources on those lands and the value to society of preserving the land in its wilderness state. We believe that our industry has compiled an outstanding track record in exploratory drilling on Government lands. It has been demonstrated repeatedly that such drilling can be conducted with only temporary and minimal impact to the surrounding environment. Moreover, once the exploration is completed, it is required that the land be returned to its natural state. Therefore, we believe that the cost of exploration in wilderness study areas is a small price to pay when compared to the benefits 510 that could be achieved through the development of that land’s resource potential. Those benefits include jobs and economic activity related to exploration and production, royalties to the U.S. Treasury and greater domestic production of minerials and hydrocarbons. Further, we strongly support placing permanent release language in any wilderness bill declaring that once an area has been judged not to have wilderness characteristics, it may not be considered again and will be managed according to multiple-use principles. If this is not done, large tracts of valuable lands will remain in limbo indefinitely and the potential uses for those lands will be needlessly sacrified. Permanent release language will remove any ambiguity about the future status of such lands and allow the agencies charged with their management to implement long-range plans for multiple uses. For the record, Getty geologists have identified those areas on the Forest Service RARE II map for Idaho that they believe have mineral or hydrocarbon potential. I have attached a list to this testimony giving specific areas and tract numbers. This illustrates a simple fact about our industry. In order to find and develop new reserves for future generations, we must explore where the geology is favorable. We cannot afford to wait for a crisis to occur, before we decide to lands. permit an inventory of the mineral resources on our Government The leadtime required to explore for and develop mineral or hydrocarbon resources is counted in years—not weeks or months. The American people deserve a policy which will put Government-owned lands to their best use. We believe that permitting a mineral and hydrocarbon assessment on potential wilderness lands and permanent release language for areas judged not to have wilderness characteristics are two steps in that direction. Thank you, Senator.