Burns says cut timber, wildlands designation

U.S. Sen. Conrad Burns made clear his views in opposition to "de facto wilderness" and in favor of harvesting timber on public lands during a field hearing on forest planning Friday in Missoula.

Burns was critical of what he sees as Forest Service employees working to further their own agendas rather than collaborating toward a common goal, said Lincoln County Commissioner Rita Windom, who was one of around 30 area residents who attended the hearing.

Burns also stressed that timber is a renewable resource, Windom said.

"He said it isn't any different than a cornfield in Iowa," she said.

Burns showed his disapproval of proposed wilderness areas, which he called "de facto wilderness," and pointed out that only Congress can create wilderness, Windom said.

"The big message was multiple use," said Libby Mayor Tony Berget, who took a bus to the hearing along with about two dozen other Libby residents.

The hearing lasted about 90 minutes and included testimony from a six-member panel that included Forest Service chief Dale Bosworth and representatives of the timber industry, the state university system, a motorized recreation group and the Montana Wilderness Association along with an independent biologist, Windom said. The estimated 500 people attending the hearing will have until Dec. 16 to submit their comments in writing.

Windom said she was somewhat dismayed by the emphasis on timber management and winter recreation at the hearing. Other uses of the forest, including grazing, mining and summer recreation — both motorized and non-motorized — were not given much attention, Windom said.

"I'm hoping that they'll take a look at that more in-depth," she said.

Berget agreed that too much time was spent on winter recreation issues.

"There was more talk about snowmobiling than logging," he said.

Among the bus riders to Missoula were seven Libby High School students and their teacher, Jeff Gruber. Berget praised Gruber and the students for making the journey.

"That was a really good learning opportunity and experience," he said.