Idaho Wilderness Hearings

Statement:

Mr. Edmonson. Senator McClure, I've been a resident of the State of Idaho for approximately 8% years. I was raised in California. I did a lot of backpacking in the Sierras. I was a member of the Sierra Club. Over everything I loved the mountains. I was young, single, idelistic, and no responsibilities. I came to Idaho because I loved the mountains and don't care for urban or even semi-rural life styles. Elk City is rural rural. I found and married my wife here, have had three children. I have a good job. I found the place that I want to raise my children. With one child with severe cardiac problems, I for sure have found responsibility. I also still have my ideals and love for the mountains. Reality falls somewhere between idealism and meeting responsibilities. For me, use of the Nez Perce National Forest falls also between ideals and responsibility, the responsibility to maintain a strong economic base where I live in Elk City, in Idaho and the United States. And the ideals of having everything in a pristine, untouched environment both are needed. For this reason, I feel that a multiple use approach to most of the—to the use of most of our national forests is necessary. We have a large wilderness area. And we need to provide for our families now to get to tomorrow. That is the reason I recommend the following: I want immediate and uncompromising release of all lands released to multiple use development in the RARE I and II studies that were not specifically set aside for wilderness. There should be no compromise of the present boundaries nor further study nor deferred status given to these areas. Some of the multiple use areas include Jersey Jack, Mallard Creek, Bargamin Creek, Running Creek, East and West Meadow Creek, I would like this entered into the record. And sitting here, I thought of a couple of other things. I know this last year the timber—I work in the timber industry. And there was a possibility of my being laid off. And had the idea, I went out and bought a small gold mining dredge, which there is other people 536 doing it. But at least in the Elk City area for the last 500 to 100 years people have been providing a way of life not only for themselves but for their families by being able to utilize the national forests, whether it's with a pick and shovel and a gold pan or whether it's cutting down firewood. There's an ability to make a life for your family. And I know that you're incapable of doing that in a wilderness areas. I like wilderness area. But there's no way that even living there that I can make much use of that wilderness area unless I can afford to have horses and the money necessary. A lot of people that work where I work can't afford to take the time off to be able to come to even hearings like this because of the job and meeting the responsibilities that they have. That's all I've got to say. Thank you.