This opinion is in response to a recent letter about a new airport in Camas County from a local author who lives part time on the Camas Prairie.
This author states her concern about Bruce Willis' weighing in his opinion as to where a new airport should be located ("I wish he would keep his big ose-nay out of matters that are really none of his business"). She cites Mr. Willis' "trying to inflict real violence on a pristine landscape and its wildlife," specifically elk, sandhill cranes, antelope and migrating birds.
In the Site Selection Study, there is the following excerpt on page 99 regarding Site 13: "The designated migration corridors for deer and elk, which cross USH 20, lie about four miles east of the site based on IDF&G data. It (site 13) is scored the highest of the three sites. There is no known critical or unique habitat on this site."
From this reference, along with numerous others in Section 5 of the study, we can infer that either the 2006 study or the latest FAA Alternatives Analysis is flawed because the ratings are completely contradictory. In fact, it is questionable how the FAA could decide to retain Site 12 as a feasible alternative and eliminate Site 13, which scored the highest of the three sites in 2006.
There are a number of other glaring inconsistencies in the recent FAA Alternatives Analysis, including the subjective ratings under the criteria "Landside and Airside Expansion Capability," "Conformity with Local, State and Federal Land Use Regulatory Requirements" and "Proximity to Demand"—to reference just a few.
The Camas County Commissioners expressed their interest in participating in the site-selection process for a replacement airport. As was expressed by a now seemingly prescient Camas commissioner in 2004, "We need to work together to identify a location on the Camas Prairie, otherwise the new airport will go in Blaine County and Camas County will get the negative impacts with no positive benefits."
Contrary to the agenda of some self-seeking Camas residents, and in light of inconsistent, conflicting and confusing analyses from the FAA, it seems that Mr. Willis, in his gesture of a land donation for a replacement airport, is considering the greatest good for both the human and wildlife populations of this region.
Mary Ann Mix
Hailey
