Public Lands

Idaho’s abundance of parks, forests, and public lands makes our state a wonderful place to live,
work, and play. As a long time Idahoan, I am deeply concerned about the preservation of our public lands, and as your representative in Congress, I have a special obligation to ensure that all legislation affecting these areas receives special scrutiny.

First and foremost, public lands were set aside for public use. Protecting the environment, which is
a legitimate priority, should be balanced with the rights of private property owners and the freedom
of Idahoans to utilize and enjoy the lands that belong to them. I strongly believe that Idahoans are
more qualified than Washington bureaucrats to determine what is best for Idaho, and when there is
a local consensus I have consistently supported passing laws to set aside public lands for the
protection of ecosystems, habitats, and species.

The Central Idaho Economic Development and Recreation Act (CIEDRA):
With this principle in mind, I have been working for many years on the Central Idaho Economic
Development and Recreation Act (CIEDRA), which resolves many of the long standing and thorny
land use, recreation, and wilderness designation issues in central Idaho. Throughout this process I
have worked closely with Custer County Commissioners, local ranchers, and other affected parties
to ensure that their views are fairly heard. This issue is very important to Idahoans. Idaho’s public
lands are perhaps our most valuable heritage, and I value your comments throughout this process.
I have included maps, editorials, public testimony, and a break down of CIEDRA’s facts and figures on my website. You can view these materials by following the link below:
http://simpson.house.gov/CIEDRA/

To view a pdf version of this issue pleace click here.