Public lands: a chance to speak out

On Wednesday, Idahoans will have their say on the thought of transferring federal lands to state management.

Supporters of a lands transfer — such as many Republican legislators — believe a transfer will improve Idaho’s public college endowment. The Legislature previously is on record supporting a transfer, and a program that would earmark five percent of proceeds from federal lands income to the college endowment. Skeptics say the move would not pencil out to the state’s benefit.

A legislative committee is learning the lands transfer concern more, with suggestions due before the 2015 session. Legislators learning the transfer issue will take public comment Wednesday in the course of a day-extended hearing at the Statehouse’s Lincoln auditorium, on the west side of the building’s underground garden degree.

• The morning comment period will run from 9:10 to ten:30 a.m., with signups from eight:15 to 8:55.


• The afternoon comment period will run from one:30 to 2:45 p.m., with a signup period from twelve:45 to 1:25.

Testimony will be taken in order of signups.

The public lands “interim committee” will also hear from three county commissioners about a feasible transfer: Idaho County Commissioner Jim Chmelik Valley County Commissioner Gordon Cruickshank and Blaine County Commissioner Larry Schoen. A Democrat, Schoen opposes the lands transfer, and he says he wasn’t offered a honest possibility to make his situation ahead of the Idaho Association of Counties passed a resolution supporting a transfer.

Other scheduled speakers Wednesday include Seth Grigg of the association of counties, Jack Lyman of the Idaho Mining Association, Sandra Mitchell of the Idaho State Snowmobile Association, and Will Whelan of the Nature Conservancy.

Wednesday’s hearing is slated to run from 9 a.m. to five p.m.

Check out back at Idaho Education Information Wednesday for coverage of the meeting.

Public lands: a chance to speak out