Idaho Wilderness Hearings

Statement:

Ms. Carlson. I am appalled that a decision made in northern California could very possibly be the kiss of death to my family's future in Idaho. This decision which stated that the Forest Service failed to fully comply with various environmental laws during the RARE II process has put the future of my family in Idaho on such an uncertain basis that we don't even know if building a home is a sound financial investment. It took 12 years to reach the conclusion of RARE II. A RARE III would take many more years and another huge chunk of taxpayer money for the study. This decision made in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has jeopardized the future jobs of about 20,000 Idahoans. It is not fair that 25 percent of Idaho's total nonfarm income depends on a court located thousands of miles away. My husband is a logger; 100 percent of our family income depends on the availability of harvestable timber. Without the roadless areas contained within the boundaries of the Clearwater National Forest, our future, needless to say, is grim in Idaho. I feel that it is necessary to add a qualifier at this point in my testimony; roadless areas are not wilderness. When I speak of roadless areas, I am referring to those areas within the Clearwater National Forest, where roads have not yet been developed. When I speak of wilderness areas, I'm referring to those areas set aside by an act of Congress to remain untouched by man forever. The roadless areas are now being managed as wilderness. This process will continue until the issue is resolved by an act of Congress. If we are going to have a future in Clearwater County, Congress will have to decide soon. Last winter, my husband couldn't find work in our area and was forced to go to Alaska to support our family. We had never been separated before and I hope we never are again. We have two small boys and the responsibility to provide a good life and a future for them. It is not possible to provide this without a dependable family income, or the comfort and the stability of a father who is home with them every night. We will leave this area before we are forced to become a part-time family to survive. Approximately 70 percent of the Clearwater National Forest is currently being managed as wilderness. The vast majority of the Clearwater National Forest is located within the boundaries of 640 Clearwater County. How can a county government function with only a small portion of total land area to draw taxes from? Our schools rely heavily on timber taxes to function. The District 171 School Board has been struggling to provide a quality education for the children of Clearwater County with an ever shrinking money supply. It will not be long before there are simply no more corners to cut. The severity of this problem is staggering. The problem would be lessened considerably if there is an assured supply of harvestable timber for our county industry to depend on. The U.S. Forest Service is a group of dedicated professionals who are qualified to manage Idaho s forest land in a productive multiple use plan for the benefit of everyone. Let's allow the professionals to do the job that they trained for and the U.S. Government has hired them to do.