Idaho Wilderness Hearings

Statement:

DIRECTOR OF PRODUCTION, JACKLIN SEED CO. Mr. Jacklin. Senator McClure, Senator Symms, ladies and gentlemen of the staff, my name is Donald W. Jacklin. I'm vice president and director of production for Jacklin Seed Co., Post Falls, Idaho. I am an agriculture businessman, and my company produces, conditions, and markets agriculture seed products, nationally and internationally. Being a business person, I have consistently maintained both a recognition and support of the multiple use concept of this Nation's and this State's agriculture forested land. This personal support, which also includes endorsement of some clearcutting concepts, has often left me at odds with some personal friends and associates. I have, however, continued to support these concepts and the efforts deemed necessary for increased national production and utilization of our natural resources, provided they are both cost effective and environmentally acceptable. I have, also supported the U.S. Forest Service cost effective portion of this equation as the ultimate decision factor in determining the final conclusion regarding these land developments. Now it is time to enforce evaluation of these costs and environmental factors. I therefore find myself obligated to strongly oppose 747 development of plans now under consideration for specifically the Cayuse-Kelly Creek area of the Clearwater National Forest. My contract with this area is both personal and direct. I have ridden in, hunted on, fished on, and found unlimited pleasure from the Cayuse-Kelly Creek area. I have an intimate knowledge and understanding of the Lunde area of the Cayuse drainage and it is from this knowledge that I am appearing before you today. I know that I must have set foot on at least every single acre of the Lunde Ridge area at one time or another during the last 10 years, and it is from this experience that I now severely question the decision to develop and log this profit deficient area. I know that the timber, with the exception of several isolated pockets, does not even approach return on investment for the roadway construction alone and the environmental spoilage of north Idaho's top blue ribbon trout stream, Cayuse Creek, will be lost if the U.S. Forest Service proceeds with plans to build new roads up the creek and permit standard logging practices. This is not a justifiable project from either cost or an environmental standpoint. Therefore, Senator, ladies and gentlemen, I urgently request your consideration and efforts to preserve and maintain the Cayuse-Kelly Creek area, specifically Lunde and Toboggan Ridge, in their current environmental state. I would like at this time, to make you aware of a very difficult philosophical situation now occuring with in the 'support block' of people such as myself, who are becoming increasingly suspicious of the procedural interaction utilized in rendering decisions affecting such areas as the Cayuse-Kelly Creek. I am not able to personally testify with regard to the many other areas now under consideration for development such as: Mallard Larkin, Payette Creek, Long Canyon, White Cloud, Salmo Priest, and others. Simply for the 'up front fact' that I am not intimately familiar with these areas as I am with the Cayuse-Kelly Creek; but I can assure you that in spite of my and others pro-development philosophy, that if the same negative return on investment for capital expenditures formula is used as in the Cayuse-Kelly Creek conclusion, then a block of previously strong supporters will in the future be impresed to react negatively when asked to assist or support. I am certain that some—if not much development—is cost effective and justifiable, but the suspicion resulting from the Cayuse-Kelly Creek decision certainly has enlarged and/or converted many of those who have supported development in the past, into a potentially new and vocal opposition force. Senators, ladies and gentlemen, I would like to thank you very much for this opportunity to testify before you today; and I again urgently request your efforts and consideration toward preservation of the Cayuse-Kelly Creek area in their current environmental condition. Thank you very much.