Idaho Wilderness Hearings

Statement:

Mr. Warnock. I live here in Lewiston. And I'm not connected with the timber industry or conservationists or environmental 748 group. I was born and raised and educated in the south. About 17 years ago I felt I reached a point in my life where I could choose anywhere I wanted to live in the country. And I made quite an extensive study as to where I wanted to live and raise my family. And I chose Idaho. And one of the biggest reasons was because of a large percent of natural forest and apparently wilderness areas. And I'm not the type of person that uses this a whole lot. I do get into the wilderness areas. And these experiences that I've had there have been real highlights for me and my family. And I know even though some of the areas that are not now classified as wilderness but are—as a matter of fact, they are wilderness because there are no roads in there. And I would like to see it kept that way. And I don't have really anything else original to say. I heard Mr.—I think it's Bill Voxman from Moscow—his testimony. I think he said exactly what I'd like to say probably better if I could just attach my comments to that or my endorsement to that. I would certainly favor the soft release approach. Thank you.