Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Galena wrong for cell tower


The following vigorously oppose the proposed Galena cell tower: 10 retired SNRA land managers; the Sierra Club; the Sawtooth Society; the Galena Backcountry Skiers Association; the Galena Lodge owner; and two retired SNRA landscape architects. NEPA requires analyzing all potential future impacts of many more towers to come. That has not been done. The Blaine County Commissioners stated to Supervisor Jane Kollmeyer: "We urge you to avoid segmented, unique decisions, i.e. one application at a time."

The issue far transcends a disingenuous attempt to disguise a 90-foot tower as a tree. The real issue is that Galena Summit is absolutely the wrong location to be designated in a Forest Plan amendment as an official communications site. I do not believe such a plan amendment would survive a legal challenge. Approximately 5,000 skiers per winter ski by the site. Public Law 92-400 creating the SNRA and specific forest visual policy puts an absolute premium on protecting the SNRA visual resource. A 34-year veteran SNRA landscape architect flatly stated that the tower—and especially the site—would be visually unacceptable.

The Sawtooth National Forest has expended a plethora of tax dollars wringing their hands and over-analyzing this issue with expensive staff time, meetings, consultations, etc. when the simple answer should have been an up-front "no." It would be tragic if approval were given. Appeals are certain and a full-blown lawsuit a distinct possibility. Then tens of thousands more taxpayer dollars with expensive government lawyers would be thrown at this mess trying to defend an indefensible legal position. Rapidly advancing cell technology is headed toward all cells operating soon from satellites.

Please contact Supervisor Kollmeyer and urge her to deny the project: Jkollmeyer@fs.fed.us. The visual integrity of the SNRA is infinitely more important than big business corporate profits. It's your taxpayer money and your SNRA.

Scott Phillips

Northern Rockies Chapter of the Sierra Club

Hailey




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