Idaho Wilderness Hearings

Statement:

LOGGING, INC. Mr. Coon. Senator McClure and committee members, my name is Raymond Coon. I am employed as president of R. F. Coon Logging, Inc., of Pierce, Idaho, a logging and construction firm that has been in business in the Clearwater area for 31 years. We employ an average of 50 to 60 persons who are solely dependent on woods-related work for their livelihood. The most of us in logging industry have been too preoccupied trying to be successful in our chosen occupation that we have not had nor taken time to do anything to protect our future. I am certainly not opposed to preserving scenic areas, but I cannot condone letting our natural and renewable resources die and go to waste. I have seen millions of board feet of valuable white pine timber go to waste in areas outside of designated wilderness areas because of environmental restraints for unfounded reasons. I believe it would be much wiser to develop the potential timber producing areas in an orderly, economically and ecologically adequate fashion instead of waiting until there is a natural disaster 502 such as Fire or bug infestation and then develop the areas in an escalated and haphazard fashion to salvage the timber. The Big Horn Weitas is one such potential area that should be developed. I am sure this area could be developed over a period of time with very minimal impact on fisheries or wildlife. Thank you, Senator.