We need to create environmental stability and economic security that are in support of one another. We need both, and it is irresponsible to sacrifice one for another. The balance between stable growth and stable environment is very important to a state whose main resource is agriculture and forestry services (including tourism). I am for ecological stability while at the same time supplying people with a livelihood. Along with creating create new job markets. It is unfair to eliminate someone’s job with having a new one beforehand.  Displacement of jobs is just as unfair as damage to the environment. Putting people out of work just creates more resistance to environmentalism. We cannot afford to focus on changing people’s lifestyles, (which has heavy resistance), but how they access their lifestyle. An adjustment to our lifestyle does not necessarily mean giving up any of our modern conveniences, but change how we access those conveniences.

When it comes to the stability of the environment, I am more willing to listen to impartial observers with scientific evidence rather than someone who is looking at a strictly economic stance or environmental extreme. We need to search out experts that can testify on an easy to understand common ground.

Natural resources can be seen as a saving account. If your savings account is sufficient, you do not live beyond your means, you replenish or do not delete the principle; you could continually live off the interest. Let us ensure that our resources are adequate, clean, sustainable and protected for future generations and the future. Let’s keep our principle strong for the future. We cannot deplete or contaminant the communities shared resources without restitution that maintains the average North Idahoan’s quality of life. We need to ensure that people continue to enjoy Idaho’s’ natural beauty and have access to it as well as agriculture related industries. Protect Idaho’s future resources for all Idahoans’ by promoting economically and ecologically sound opportunities for the future.

The ATV recreation and sportsman activities is something that is very important to the residents of North Idaho. While attending public forums as a private citizen I have listened to comments from the ATV industry and environmentalists. According to the participants, there were areas currently closed and commonly utilized and should remain open year around while at the same time there were trails near sensitive areas that are currently open that should never be open to motorized vehicles. Instead of permanently opening or closing an area, maybe a different alternating timetable should be looked. Alternating those available areas more often between closed and open would not only allow areas to recover more efficiently but also allow more variety of areas for more enjoyable rides. Why could they not be periodically opened and closed. That would allow the ATV and other industries to utilize recreation areas while prohibiting other areas allowing for environmentally recovery.

Growing-up in Idaho I enjoyed backpacking where there were no roads. Wilderness areas are vital to Idaho’s economy, tourist dollars and well being of its’ residences. For the three brief years I lived in Seattle, I encountered many individuals that would plan their vacations in Northern Idaho, including one individual that would spend several thousand dollars on a hunting trip alone.

Like you, I am tired of Idaho’s natural resources being sold cheap. The looting of Idaho without compensation or concern for the future must be stopped while we still have something left. Idaho’s natural resources belong to Idahoans. The Quality of Life and income derived from them are Idaho’s property and it’s products. If the national forest area that is sold by the federal government was placed in the hands of the state, both could be accommodated. The federal government consistently sells off public state assets, keeps the money, and leaves the rest to be fought over by state industries and environmentalists. I believe the income derived form public national forest land that the federal government sells; does not belong to the federal government, but to the people of the state in which it is located. It should not be sold but utilized by individual citizens whether it is to hunt, collect firewood, make a livelihood or simply enjoy.

We need balance between nature’s beauties. We need to maintain health and enjoyment, environment that attracts tourism dollars and the forest industry that provides jobs. All are vital to North Idaho. That’s why I’m for protecting our pristine beauty and selective foresting.

We must realize that there will always be a need for forestry and/or wood products. However, we must be careful to do minimum damage to the environment and still maintain a wood product industry. Since my childhood in Northern Idaho, I have noticed the logs on the logging trucks getting smaller. Let us utilize our forest areas to grow those endangered and rare forest products. Once we have those products and species, (no longer endangered in our area), we have a valuable export and prevent another extension.

I am very opposed to clear-cutting. Not only is it wasteful, but also creates environmental instability. When we “clear-cut”; we let a large amount of wood go to waste and allowed too rot. Clear-cutting also causes erosion and destroys our soil.

However, I am for “Selective Cutting” followed by replanting and “Re-Forestation”. When we selective cut we can use everything. Selective cutting with reforestation can often revitalize dying areas of the forest. The need for selective cutting is very important not only to our economy, but also to build the homes that many of us live in. We have a need for wood products and Idaho will fill it as long as its done responsibility and not at the expense of environmental stability. 

Following the Federal Endangered Species Act does not necessarily have to result in a negative impact for jobs. Both can be accommodated. Endangered species need to be protected as we are loosing species on our planet all the time. Diversity is essential for survival. Putting some one out of a job without a replacement job is not fair either. If it is proven that an area needs to be put in protection and this creates displaced jobs, then a different area should be opened up to accommodate an equal amount of jobs without interruption to the existing work force or cause permanent destruction of the environment. This should only be used for saving the equal number of jobs. Relocating jobs should not be used as an excuse for looting the environment.

The need and demand for resources can only increase with population growth and development. The best way to protect environmental resources is to create and develop alternative resources.

One example is that approximately 1/3 of new steel is produced from recycled materials. I foresee Idaho being the main processing center for recycled wood pulp products (paper, cardboard, pressboard, to name a few). With ever-increasing environmental laws and concerns, higher post consumer content products and sources for paper products are being sought.

If we want more financially and ecologically sound energy and materials we must meet the industry with the need. Various support of these types of industries are most beneficial in creating environmental stability and economic security.

We need to spur the renewable industry not only for economic opportunity, but also for environmental conservation. We need to help establish Idaho as a major manufacturing processing/export center from metals, plastics, to wood pulp/fibers by helping to stimulate industries and eliminate state taxes on various aspects of recycled materials. The more recycled material we utilize the less environmental harm we inflict. Let us explore ways we can promote businesses to be environmentally responsible while being fiscally sound.

Tax incentives for ecologically produced and recycled wood pulp/fibers, materials used in farming, from fertilizer to methane produced from bio-waist, among other materials, would be a “financial boost” for Idaho’s struggling mills and other economies as well as more efficient use of resources. We need to work on eliminating state taxes on every aspect of renewable energy and renewable products from the collection of raw materials to processing to point of sale on all consumer and business products made from recycled metals to plastics and organic material/fibers.

Additional tax breaks on products and processes that produce paper products with more biodegradable hydrogen peroxide rather than chlorine processes.

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