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Let’s look at Scotchman Peaks by the numbers

As the advisory vote on the Scotchman Peaks approaches, here are some key numbers to consider:

- 2,500,000 — acres of public land in the Idaho Panhandle National Forest

- 13,960 — acres proposed for wilderness in the Idaho portion of the proposed Scotchman Peaks Wilderness managed by the Idaho Panhandle National Forest. This would not change with wilderness designation.

- ½ of 1 percent —percentage of the Idaho Panhandle National Forests land contained in the Idaho portion of the proposed Scotchman Peaks Wilderness

- 1979, 1987, 2015 — Years in which the Idaho Panhandle National Forest made formal recommendations for wilderness designation for Scotchman Peaks. Each was preceded by numerous public meetings and opportunities for written public comment.

- 55 — number of active wildfires in Washington, Idaho and Montana on our smoky day of September 4, 2017

- 8 — number of active wildfires in Washington, Idaho and Montana on our smoky day of September 4, 2017 that were in wilderness areas

- 2,353 — number of volunteer hours donated by Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness in 2017

- 0 — acres of existing wilderness in the nine northern-most Idaho counties

- 0 — number of roads now open to motorized vehicles that would be closed if the Scotchman Peaks is designated wilderness

- 0 — The acres of the Scotchman Peaks Wilderness that would be open to mining claims and mineral exploration if the area were designated Wilderness

- 15 — The day in May when you can vote in support of Wilderness designation for Scotchman Peaks Wilderness

KEN THACKER

Sagle