Idaho Wilderness Hearings

Statement:

Mr. Carlson. Senator, I'm Keith Carlson. I live here in Lewiston. I represent the Idaho Wildlife Federation, district 2, and the Lewis & Clark Wildlife Club of Lewiston, Idaho. I'll be brief because I know you have a busy hearing schedule. Basically, we support very strongly the recommendation of the Idaho Department of Fish and Game for the designation of the Millard-Larkin Area, a total of 156,068 acres, and for the entire Kelly Creek range as defined by the department of fish and game, which totals 226,000 acres—226,873 acres, as wilderness areas. In my written testimony, I've included a map designating these areas. We would also strongly recommend that your final Idaho wilderness bill not include what's been termed 'hard release' language that would further preclude consideration by any future generations of wilderness areas. And we recommend that the normal Forest Service regulations and planning procedures be followed for future consideration of multiple-lands to include wilderness areas. Our recommendations are primarily based on wildlife consider ation since that's our organization's goal. Other groups will no doubt propose additional areas worthy of consideration. And we reserve the right to lend our support to those additional areas as the hearings reveal them. We recognize that the Indian tribes and religious and historical considerations as well as some of the other groups with geological and scenic considerations. There is more detail in my written submissions, Senator. But I think that basically sums up our position.