Idaho Wilderness Hearings

Statement:

FOREST INDUSTRY COUNCIL Mr. Hinson. Thank you, Senator McClure. I'm Joe Hinson, executive director of Idaho Forest Industry Council. And I'd like to speak just almost extemporaneously over the discussion about release language. We've all heard various definitions of hard versus soft, and it's been somewhat confusing. From the timber industry standpoint, what we would like is language that releases the Forest Service from having to further address roadless area questions. These are the wilderness, the nonwilderness through the planning process. We are in effect making those decisions right now with this legislation. We have done the necessary study through RARE I, RARE II, and this discussion at some point simply has to come to an end. And we are saying that the release language that we seek does represent the end to that particular discussion. Let me make it clear that we certainly feel that Forest Service planning process ought to consider the other range of appropriate management activities on the national forest, including recreation, wildlife, timber, minerals, and grazing, and that nothing that we propose would preclude the rights of future Congresses to designate wilderness. Obviously that cannot be done. We wouldn't think it would be desirable anyway. If economics change, if public opinions change, if there is new knowledge that supports additional wilderness designations, then certainly future Congresses are free to make those decisions. But in the absence of those decisions, our position is that the Forest Service should consider the wilderness issue closed with the passage of this legislation and proceed with orderly land-management decisions based upon the plan for each national forest. That's what we really need to stabilize our national forest land base as far as the growing—continuous growing and harvesting of timber crops is concerned. Thank you.