Idaho Wilderness Hearings

Statement:

Mr. Denevan. Thank you, Senator. I've lived in this State since 1922. I first went to work in the wood products industry in 1939. And with the exception of 5 years out for World War II, I'm still in the industry. I've worked both in the woods and in the mills. At present, I am employed as a machinist in the papermill here at Lewiston. During these many years that I've worked in the industry, I've made a good living for myself and for my family. I've paid a substantial amount of Federal, State, and local taxes during these years. I'm also a member of the Idaho State AFL-CIO Executive Board. At our recent convention held this year in June in Pocatello, a resolution came before the body that asked that this wilderness issue be addressed and be settled. And of the approximately 140 voting delegates at that convention, the resolution passed without a dissenting vote. So the workers in this State are interested in getting this issue settled. I believe that the wilderness area that we presently have set aside in the State of Idaho and the approximately 600,000 acres that is proposed by the forest products industry should be sufficient. If a person decided to explore this vast amount of land and he set a goal of 100 square miles a year, it would take him almost 69 years to see it. So this should be enough. Timber is a crop. It should be harvested. Jobs are important, and they can be provided with this renewable natural resource that we have here in this State. Thank you, Senator.