June 2, 1999 Republic article: Plan to reintroduce grizzlies into Selway due out in
weeks. by Ken Dey. Hotlinks and comments added by Concerned About Grizzlies, Inc.
CAG, a grassroots organization.
After months of delay, the final environmental impact statement for grizzly bear recovery
in the Selway Bitterroot Wilderness is now due out later this summer.
CAG Comments
THE
MOMENT OF TRUTH IS FAST APPROACHING
Original
premise fatally flawed.
Bogus science
employed.
Scientists say food source questionable.
The Citizens of Ravalli County oppose the exploiation of grizzly bears.
Ravalli County Commissioners oppose the exploiation
of grizzly bears.
Montana Legislators oppose the exploitation
of grizzly bears.
Almost to a person Idaho is against the exploitation of grizzly bears.
Canadians oppose the exploitation of
grizzly bears.
Dumb idea?
It gets DUMBER for bears, people and
taxpayers!
End CAG Comments
According to Larid Robinson, Forest Service representative on the
reintroduction team, the final document is finished, but still needs to be sent to the
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service regional director's office in Denver for a final review.
That review is expected to take about six weeks, which would put the final EIS
(ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT) out sometime in mid July or early August.
Last December, the agencies indicated it would be out sometime in February or March.
"The preliminary - review process has taken a lot longer than we expected about -
nine weeks," Robinson said.
CAG Comments
This review process is coupled with a process that was put in place by
environmental interest groups that have captured federal agencies.
No doubt the Interagnecy Grizzly Bear
Reintroduction Commitee, along with other bureaucrats, trained as lawyers and strategists,
spend countless hours playing "if the citizens do this...then we do this. Here is the
outcome. Is the outcome what we want?? If not, modify to bring about the desired outcome.
"...and on and on and on". [It is probably not possible to compute how many tax
dollars have already been spent on this project. Sure would be interesting to know! Could have done a lot of good with that money!]
If you believe this is a 'pipedream', read the master
plan. carefully.
A review of the collaborative process of land
management was conducted in Missoula during April, 1998 in the basement of the law
building. The meeting was attended by 200 or so law students, representatives of various
environmental groups [Mr. Fisher, Mr. Nader, Mr. France, among others, who ran and planned
the program] and The Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee members, Chris Servheen, Laird
Robinson and others, who took notes and understood they were to listen to the interest
groups regardless of what the public wanted. Inattention could put their positions
in jeopardy from Mr. Babbitt and Mr. Dombeck, appointees of the Clinton Administration.
End CAG Comments
Robinson said the reintroduction team doesn't have much control over how long
the review takes.
After the final review is completed the reintroduction team will make any recommended
changes and have the 600-plus-pages document printed.
According to Chris Servheen, grizzly bear recovery coordinator, a summary of the final
EIS will be mailed out to everyone on the agency's mailing list. The complete copy of the
EIS will be available at libraries in the proposed recovery area.
After its release, the public will have 30 day to comment on the document, Robinson
said. The public comments will be compiled and presented to Ralph Morgenweck, the Fish and
Wildlife Service's regional director, who will choose the alternative.
"I think it's safe to say that the Record of Decision will likely be signed
in early September. Robinson said.
The preferred alternative for grizzly reintroduction identified in the draft EIS would
reintroduce three to five
bears in the Selway - Bitterroot Wilderness until the animals number 25. Those 25
bears would be watched for 10 years to determine whether or not reintroduction was
successful.
CAG Comments
End CAG Comments
RETURN