The U.S. Forest Service is very close to a decision on whether to approve the Idaho Department of Fish and Game's dubious request to land helicopters in the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness for the ostensible purpose of counting and radio-collaring wolves. Whether it's counting wolves or counting widgets, motorized helicopter landings are clearly prohibited by the 1964 Wilderness Act, Section 4(b) and 4(c).
A further fatal flaw is that the Forest Service proposes to use a flimsy categorical exclusion to justify its actions if it does erroneously capitulate and throw the Wilderness Act under the bus to politically appease the state of Idaho. A full environmental analysis is mandated.
We have already witnessed the horrible recent decision by Fish and Game to extend the wolf hunting season until March 31 when wolves are denning, the mothers are pregnant and newborn pups entirely defenseless. Does the Forest Service really want to have a "partnership" with a low-ball and unscrupulous Department of Fish and Game?
While I hold out hope that the Forest Service will redeem its clear duty to uphold the law, your help is urgently needed. Please stand up for your irreplaceable wilderness resource and the law and urge the decision makers to reject the helicopter landings. Time is of the essence.
Please send a succinct e-mail urging denial of the helicopters to William Wood, supervisor, Salmon Challis National Forest (wwood@fs.fed.us) and to Ogden Regional Forester Harvey Forsgren (hforsgren@fs.fed.us).
The Forest service must stiffen its backbone, uphold the law and just say no.
Scott Phillips
Hailey
