Washington, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Jim Risch today presented S. 583, the Sawtooth National Recreation Area and Jerry Peak Wilderness Additions Act, at a hearing held by the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests and Mining. This bill, commonly known as the Boulder-White Clouds wilderness bill, is the companion to legislation authored by Congressman Mike Simpson in the House of Representatives.

 “Regardless of where people are on this issue there isn’t anyone who would disagree […] that this is one of the most remarkable places in the world,” said Risch. “You could travel all over the world but you would always remember your trip to the Boulder-White Clouds. It is truly unique.”

 The panel of witnesses was made up of Leslie Weldon of the U.S. Forest Service, Tim Murphy of the Bureau of Land Management, Rick Johnson of the Idaho Conservation League, and Brett Stevenson of the Wood River Bike Coalition of Idaho.

 Video of the full hearing can be found on YouTube or a high resolution file of the video can be downloaded via FTP link.