Sen. Jim Risch, R-Idaho, has voiced his opposition to the Central Idaho Economic Development and Recreation Act, the wilderness bill he is co-sponsoring in the Senate.
"I'm not going to vote for the bill in the form that it is in," Risch told the Idaho Statesman last week. "It needs more work. When that work is done, I will make a new judgment whether I would vote for the bill."
This opposition comes as a blow to the bill, which had previously been supported by the entire Idaho congressional delegation, including Risch, Reps. Mike Simpson and Walt Minnick, and Sen. Mike Crapo.
CIEDRA would create three wilderness areas, totaling 332,775 acres. The Hemingway-Boulders Wilderness and the White Clouds Wilderness would comprise land from the Sawtooth and Challis national forests, while the proposed Jerry Peak Wilderness covers land managed by the Challis District of the Bureau of Land Management and the Challis National Forest.
Risch had previously supported the bill, bringing it to the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee in June. Since then, however, he has stated that he only co-sponsored it as a favor to fellow member Rep. Mike Simpson, the bill's main author.
"He introduced the bill to get the process moving for Congressman Simpson," Risch spokesman Brad Hoaglun said. "[But] it's not the same bill as it was in 2006."
Risch remains a co-sponsor of the bill, but has stated that he does not support changes made in negotiations between the Senate committee, Simpson and Crapo, the bill's other Senate co-sponsor.
A list of the senator's concerns has not yet been released, but Hoaglun said one would be forthcoming. The concerns, he said, were similar to those previously voiced by Gov. Butch Otter. In a letter to the Senate committee dated June 14, Otter urged that the bill contain a prohibition of the establishment of federal water rights, ensure helicopter access for wildlife management and provide for eradication of invasive species
Jim Risch
Mike Simpson
