Wednesday, November 5, 2014

A golden opportunity for the Boulder-White Clouds

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    For nearly two years, proponents of a massive national monument in Central Idaho, which would overlap the Boulder-White Clouds peaks in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area, have repeatedly declared there is no chance for enactment of legislation to congressionally designate these peaks as wilderness—designation even monument proponents acknowledge would grant the “gold standard” of environmental protection.
    Accordingly, proponents have focused on what they see as the next best alternative—creation of a national monument. But in October, Congressman Mike Simpson announced plans to reintroduce and strongly push his CIEDRA legislation early next year to congressionally designate the area as wilderness. Simpson’s decision rests on several things including expected changes in leadership of the House Resources Committee (where Rep. Rob Bishop, who is promoting wilderness legislation in northeastern Utah, will likely replace the current chair) and acknowledgement by Obama administration officials that congressional action, rather than a presidentially proclaimed national monument, is the best way to provide additional protection. The threat of problems arising from possible monument creation, particularly one overlapping the Boulder-White Clouds, should CIEDRA fail, also may help its passage. The cumulative impact of these and other changes significantly increase chances for CIEDRA’s success.
    The advantages of congressional wilderness designation versus a national monument are many. It provides a level of environmental protection a monument designation cannot achieve. It follows a well-known process with a predictable outcome in contrast to the uncertain process, outcome and timetable that a monument route involves. It avoids years of diversion of management resources, delays of critical decisions, confusion and possible litigation for the Sawtooth NRA involved in developing the multi-agency, multi-year management plan required for a national monument. And, in CIEDRA’s case, it incorporates over a decade of important input from Idaho stakeholders via numerous public hearings and meetings that Simpson conscientiously held in developing his proposal. Simpson has asked the administration for time to pursue enactment of CIEDRA before they make any final decision on creation of a national monument. This presents a unique opportunity in 2015 to “get it right” on meaningful further Boulder-White Clouds protection. Even those promoting a monument should recognize that supporting CIEDRA is consistent with providing the best permanent protection for the area. As a longtime supporter of CIEDRA, steadfastly committed to this approach even when others lost hope and shifted to the problematic national monument route, the Sawtooth Society hopes everyone who values this area’s unique natural qualities will unite to do everything possible to capitalize on a golden opportunity.
Paul Hill
President, Sawtooth Society

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