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April 2004
Volume 4
Interesting
Tidbits & Wilderness Quotes:
Quote: In wilderness I sense the miracle of life, and behind it
our scientific accomplishments fade to trivia. — Charles
A. Lindbergh (1967)
Contents:
Wilderness News Briefs provide short issue summaries and contact
information. Action Alerts are full-length, time-sensitive postings.
Wilderness News Briefs:
(1) Forest Service withdraws approval of vehicle access to private
inholding in Kalmiopsis Wilderness, OR.
(2) Federal Charges Filed in Wilderness Timber Theft Investigation
(AK)
(3) No Hot Tubs for Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness,
ID
(4) Border Control Could get more Public Lands Access
(5) Tiffany & Co. Criticizes Rock Creek Mine (MT)
*Wilderness News Briefs*
(1) Forest Service withdraws approval of vehicle access to private
inholding in Kalmiopsis Wilderness, OR.
GRANTS PASS, OR – On April 13th, an U.S. District Court in
Oregon settled a case challenging a Forest Service decision to grant
motorized access to a private inholding located 8 miles within Oregon’s
Kalmiopsis Wilderness. The case was resolved after the agency withdrew
its Record of Decision (ROD) in March. The ROD allowed a private
landowner to convert a Forest Service trail into a road to access
a 60-acre parcel he plans to log, mine, or develop into a resort.
The permit authorized 8 motorized trips per year with 3 high clearance
vehicles, with maintenance of the access route limited to hand tools.
The Siskiyou Regional Education Project and Wilderness Watch challenged
the ROD, as the agency’s environmental analysis failed to consider
the cumulative impacts of motorized access before issuing a special
use permit. The landowner also challenged the ROD, claiming unlimited
motorized access under a provision of the 1866 mining law known
as Revised Statute 2477 (RS-2477).
More…
http://www.wildernesswatch.org/Hot%20Topics/Action%20Alerts/Kal.htm
(2) Federal Charges Filed in Wilderness Timber Theft Investigation
(AK)
Thorne Bay, Alaska - U.S. Forest Service law enforcement officers
arrested one man and seized a tug boat Friday, April 9 as part of
a continuing investigation of timber theft on Prince of Wales Island,
according to Tongass National Forest Supervisor Forrest Cole. "We
take protection of the Tongass National Forest very seriously,"
the Supervisor noted. "This case is just one example of the
hard work of our Law Enforcement and Investigations Unit to protect
the Forest."
Forest Service Assistant Special Agent in Charge Martin Myers said
that 32-year-old Wade Tiffany, of Thorne Bay, was arraigned Monday,
April 12 and charged in the theft, cutting and transport of a commercial
quantity of red cedar logs from the shoreline and several other
locations of the South Prince of Wales Wilderness. Myers noted that
Tiffany is charged with the theft, cutting and transport of these
logs which were cut and prepared in a manner that made them readily
marketable to the export market. Tiffany was also charged with killing
deer out of season, and a variety of Wilderness Act violations.
Myers added that the investigation is ongoing, and other arrests
may follow.
More…
http://www.sitnews.us/0404news/041504/041504_timber_theft.html
(3) No Hot Tubs for Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness,
ID
As a result of the public outcry, Payette National Forest District
Ranger, Quinn Carver decided to deny an outfitter's request to allow
the setup and maintenance of hot tubs at outfitter camps in the
FC-River of No Return Wilderness. In his decision, the district
ranger states:
"It is my determination and professional opinion that: The
proposal does not meet, and is counter to, the intent of the Wilderness
Act. The proposal would introduce a use counter to policy set forth
in the FSM."
He went on to state that "Maintaining opportunities for primitive
and unconfined recreation requires restricting amenities and conveniences
of the modern world from entering the Wilderness."
Thank you to all who wrote in opposition to this proposal! You can
thank the district ranger by writing to Krassel Ranger District,
PO Box 1026, McCall, ID 83638, or e-mail: qcarver01@fs.fed.us. This
is an important win in principal for Wilderness!
(4) Border Control Could get more Public Lands Access
Arizona Daily Star:
The Department of Homeland Security wants increased access for Border
Patrol agents and their vehicles in a national park area, a wildlife
refuge and wilderness areas along the U.S.-Mexican border.
Federal land managers worry the influx of motorcycles, ATVs, horses
and aircraft may harm protected areas. They also feel that without
stepped-up patrols the environment will keep getting hammered by
smugglers and illegal border crossers…
For More Information:
Arizona Daily Star:
http://www.dailystar.com/dailystar/dailystar/14487.php
(5) Tiffany & Co. Criticizes Rock Creek Mine (MT)
Note: The proposed Rock Creek mine would drill under the
Cabinet Mountains Wilderness in western Montana.
Missoulian:
In a first for a major jewelry retailer, Tiffany & Co. bought
an ad in the Washington Post on Wednesday and used it to lobby against
the proposed Rock Creek Mine in northwestern Montana.
Running as an open letter to Forest Service Chief Dale Bosworth,
the advertisement also took issue with the 1872 General Mining Act,
contending it "virtually gives away public lands and the minerals
under them to private interests."
"We at Tiffany & Co. understand that mining must remain
an important industry," wrote Tiffany's chairman Michael Kowalski.
"But like some other businesses benefiting from trade in precious
metals, we also believe that reforms are urgently needed…
Missoulian:
http://www.missoulian.com/articles/2004/03/25/news/mtregional/news06.txt
Newsday:
http://www.newsday.com/business/local/newyork/ny-bztiff303729443mar30,0,760089.story?coll=ny-nybusiness-headlines
Bush Admin. Crticizes Tiffany:
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/aplocal_story.asp?category=6420&slug=WA%20Rock%20Creek%20Tiffany
Billings Gazette:
http://www.billingsgazette.com/index.php?tl=1&display=rednews/2004/03/24/build/state/52-silvermine.inc
_____________________________________________________________________________
Since its founding in 1989, Wilderness Watch has pursued its mission
as the citizen voice for Wilderness stewardship, giving a voice
to the Wilderness and Wild Rivers of our national preservation systems.
We seek to preserve our unique natural heritage - the public will
articulated by the Wilderness Act and Wild and Scenic Rivers Act.
To join Wilderness Watch please visit our website at www.wildernesswatch.org.
If you would like to subscribe or unsubscribe from
this list, have any questions, or would like to post a news release,
please contact Hilary Wood at hwood@wildernesswatch.org.
If you prefer the post, please send your letters to:
Wilderness Watch
P.O. Box 9175
Missoula, MT 59807
Phone: (406) 542-2048
Fax: (406) 542-7714
http://www.wildernesswatch.org
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