Wednesday, June 30, 2004

Wilderness talks start Thursday

Simpson hosts town hall meetings in Ketchum, Stanley, Challis

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By GREG STAHL
Express Staff Writer

The opportunity to weigh in on Rep. Mike Simpson’s proposed wilderness and economic development blueprint for the Boulder and White Cloud mountains is Thursday.

Phyllis Lake in the White Cloud Mountains could be one of the bones of contention in Rep. Mike Simpson’s wilderness proposal. The alpine lake would not be inside the wilderness boundary, and a yet-to-be-built motorized trail would link it with Washington Basin to the south. Photo by the Boulder White Clouds Council

The Idaho 2nd Congressional District Republican will hold town hall meetings in Ketchum and Stanley. The Ketchum meeting will run from 9 to 11 a.m. Thursday, July 1, at the American Legion Hall. The Stanley meeting will be from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Stanley School.

Another meeting will be held Friday, July 2, from 9 to 11 a.m. in Challis at the Challis High School.

"I just want to hear what people’s thoughts are on this before we draft the final bill," Simpson said. "There is going to be some part of this that everyone likes. There’s going to be something everybody dislikes. Hence the nature of a compromise."

According to Simpson’s office, a sign-up sheet will be available for speakers to sign up for two-minute slots. Speakers will be called in the order they sign up until the close of the meeting, but an effort will be made to ensure that various views are heard.

Those who attend will also be invited to submit their comments in writing or by e-mail.

Since Simpson released his Central Idaho Economic Development and Recreation proposal on June 18, opinions have been flying, though a final verdict does not appear to be out. A compromise is necessary, observers say, but ask if the proposal is too much.

According to Simpson’s proposed framework, the legislation would feature potential designation of three separate wilderness areas totaling up to 300,000 acres, opening and closing of trails, construction of a paved bicycle path and federal land transfers to Custer County, among a myriad of other considerations.

It would also stick $1 million in the Idaho Off Road Motor Vehicle Program’s bank account and convey federal properties to the state of Idaho to be administered as campgrounds, recreation facilities and as access points to federal land. It would create a Boulder-White Clouds Recreation Management Area that would include all lands not designated as wilderness.

Simpson stressed that the document is meant as a starting point for public consideration and is not a finished product. The concepts will be refined over the summer following public meetings and a public comment period.

"I want to reiterate that this is not legislation," Simpson wrote in the introduction to the proposal outline. "It is a framework that I believe provides a win for all parties and allows us to discuss this important issue."

Critics from the conservation community have said the proposal would give too much away to motorized users, including a motorized east-to-west corrode and a peninsula of road-free land in the western White Clouds that includes Champion and Phyllis lakes.

Critics from motorized groups have said they are giving away too much in currently accessible trails.

Simpson said it is not going to be easy for everyone.

"Everybody’s going to have to swallow in some areas, for sure," he said. "The alternative is to do nothing and have a lot of these issues unresolved. I think that if we are unable to resolve this now, I doubt anyone will try it again for the next 20 years."

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