Designation not needed to protect Scotchmans

This letter is in response to Sandy Compton’s letter of April 9. Now the real reason for wanting the Scotchmans in wilderness by your group is to prevent the mining industry from using public lands. This is a poor reason for designating any area as wilderness.

I, too, have seen many areas where past mining standards would not make it in today’s environment. How many streams have been degraded by placer mining? The Coeur d’Alene, Deer Lodge, Nez Perce and Helena forests have plenty. Would mining companies be allowed to do the same thing now? The answer is no. We are not living in the 1800s or mid-1900s where expectations and standards were different. It’s 2009.

It was common practice to build toilets over streams at one time. How many do you see now? Towns used to dump sewage into steams. How many do it now? I’m thankful we have learned from past mistakes. But why compare and condemn past allowed practices with what’s allowed today?

I stand by my letter of April 7. To classify this area as wilderness is a poor excuse to prevent any presumed use. Please call it anything but wilderness.

JERRY STERN

Sagle