Not every conceivable factor has been publicly raised in the often stormy debate over relocating Friedman Memorial Airport to a more remote, distant site.
Economic impact on passengers and airlines has been questioned. Impact on wildlife is in the mix. Climate, terrain and road travel time are on the list.
Now comes environmental justice, which Hailey City Councilwoman Carol Brown is urging as part of the Federal Aviation Administration's Environmental Impact Statement study on possible alternative sites to Friedman.
Stressing that she was writing as a private citizen and not a member of the Hailey council, Brown sent a letter to Cayla Morgan, the FAA's regional project manager for the EIS, citing 1994 presidential Executive Order No. 12898.
Quoting parts of the order, Brown pointed out "environmental justice" requires federal agencies to consider "the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin or income with respect to the development, implementation and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations and policies."
In her Feb 20 letter to Morgan, Brown also singled out Chapter 10 of the FAA's Airport Desk Reference.
"Fair treatment means that no group of people, including racial, ethnic or socioeconomic group, should bear a disproportionate share of the negative environmental effects resulting from industrial, municipal and commercial operations or the execution of federal state, local and tribal programs and policies."
Brown, who works for the U.S. Forest Service, wrote that she believes a demographic analysis is needed to determine if low-income and minority populations would be seriously impacted if Friedman were expanded to the south and east as some of the ardent save-Friedman boosters in Ketchum and Sun Valley propose.
Citing an analysis produced by Ketchum City Councilman Charles Conn showing that North Valley residents own 80 percent of Blaine County's property value and thus need to be heard, Brown said the lower income residents could be adversely affected if Friedman were retained.
She also suggested the FAA produce Spanish-language material to inform the valley's Hispanic population.
Carol Brown
