By Lee Flinn and Matt Bullard

Idaho Statesman | Edition Date: 1/10/07

Idahoans love Idaho. We love the backcountry, hunting, fishing, hiking and horseback riding. We treasure clean water we can swim in and the air we breathe. Idaho is a fantastic place, and we all want to preserve its beauty for our children.

With Gov. Jim Risch's seven-month term complete, he can reflect on diverse achievements. One area that stands out is his commitment to protecting Idaho's clean air, water and the natural places that make our state a special place to live. Risch took strong positions supporting these shared conservation values and demonstrated that protecting our quality of life is not a partisan issue.

• Mercury pollution and coal-fired power plants.

Risch took decisive action to protect Idahoans from new sources of highly toxic mercury pollution by opting Idaho out of the federal mercury pollution trading program. With this action (which could be reversed by a future governor), Risch closed the door on building coal-fired power plants that would emit mercury in Idaho. Risch wisely recognized that any promises of economic development from a coal-fired power plant were outweighed by increased mercury pollution. A potent neurotoxin, mercury poses a health threat to everyone — and is especially harmful to pregnant women, fetuses and small children.

•Cleaner energy.

While saying "no" to dirty coal-fired power plants, Risch endorsed clean energy sources. Risch has said "as a state and nation we need to give serious consideration to cleaner, renewable sources of energy. Developing these sustainable sources of energy can make both environmental and economic sense." His commitment to finding cleaner energy sources is timely and important. Over the summer an interim legislative committee met to craft a statewide energy plan. Time will tell if the proposed plan will emphasize renewable energy and efficiencies such as conservation efforts — or if the plan will continue to emphasize polluting, non-renewable energy sources.

• Proposition 2.

Risch took a strong stance against Proposition 2 — the extreme regulatory takings initiative that voters rejected by 74 percent of the vote. Risch spoke out against the attempted radical rewrite of state land use laws, and by doing so he helped educate voters about this misguided initiative.

• Roadless areas.

Risch petitioned the federal government to increase protection for Idaho's 9 million acres of roadless land, ensuring that the vast majority of roadless areas remain undeveloped, thereby protecting forest health and protecting the special places where Idahoans hunt, fish and hike.

• Wilderness.

Using his public platform, Risch spoke out in favor of proposed wilderness areas in the Boulder-White Cloud Mountains and the Owyhee Canyonlands.

• Sockeye salmon.

When some proposed to defund a captive sockeye salmon breeding program, Risch stated that "it would not be the policy of the administration to abandon the recovery of sockeye salmon."

• Wild elk.

When a herd of domestic elk broke free from an eastern Idaho shooter bull operation, Risch responded quickly and decisively to ensure that Idaho's prized wild elk herds remain genetically pure and free from disease. The health of our big-game animals are of paramount importance to the sportsmen and sportswomen of Idaho.

When an elected official does the right thing, they should be thanked. For a short-term governor, Risch leaves behind an impressive list of accomplishments. Taking balanced steps to preserve the Idaho we all love is what Idahoans want from our elected officials. It's not a Republican value or a Democratic value — it's an Idaho value.

Thank you Gov. Risch. We hope Gov. Butch Otter will follow in Risch's footsteps.

Lee Flinn is the Executive Director of Conservation Voters for Idaho and Matt Bullard serves on the board of directos.