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1) Comments
on Wolf Delisting and “10(j) Rule” due
August 6 • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 1) Comments on Wolf Delisting and “10(j) Rule” due August 6 In light of its tentative acceptance of Wyoming's wolf management plan, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has reopened the comment period on adding Wyoming to its proposal to take the gray wolf in the northern Rocky Mountain states off the Endangered Species list. Comments are due by Aug. 6. Since Wyoming's plan is to manage wolves by killing all but about 15 breeding pairs, and to classify them as "predatory animals" subject to being shot on sight or worse by anyone at any time in all but the very northwest corner of the state, your comments are critical. Fish and Wildlife also wants public comments by Aug. 6 on its proposal to give states the right to kill wolves before they're delisted in areas where elk herd numbers are below management objectives. (This proposal is also referred to as "modification of the 10(j) rule.") For information on both proposals and details on how you can comment, please go to: http://www.jhalliance.com/Library/PressReleases/Wolves.7-07.htm.• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • (Back to top) 2) Bridger-Teton Seeks Comments on Elk Feedgrounds At the end of July, the Forest Service published a “notice of intent” to study the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission’s request for a 20-year permit to run elk winter feeding operations at seven feedgrounds on Forest Service land: Fish Creek, Pritchard (Dog) Creek, Muddy Canyon (Muddy Creek), Fall Creek, Alkali Creek, Upper Green River and Patrol Cabin. This scoping notice is required under the National Environmental Policy Act, which compels the Forest Service to analyze potential environmental impacts before taking action. The state operates 22 winter feedgrounds -- some on federal land -- in northwestern Wyoming to keep wildlife away from cattle feedlines and to help elk survive since human development has diminished natural winter range. As examples of issues to be considered, the scoping notice mentions impacts the elk will have on native vegetation and the possibility that seeds in hay might spread noxious weeds. It neglects to mention the greatest concern with continuing winter feeding: artificially concentrating elk on feedgrounds, which increases the spread of diseases, such as brucellosis. It also ignores the probability that the always fatal chronic wasting disease will infect the elk herds and thrive in the concentrated conditions. Lastly, the notice doesn’t mention that winter feeding and the consequent crowding of elk will attract wolves, which could result in the wolves’ death (see “10(j) Rule” above). Please urge the Forest Service by the Sept. 17 comment deadline to analyze a full scope of concerns, including those mentioned here, and any others that you know of. Unless we give Forest Service officials clear direction regarding the scope of their NEPA analysis, we risk perpetuating this dangerous practice of winter feeding. In addition to the 20-year permits, the Forest Service plans to issue temporary special-use permits for Winter 2007-08 to allow feedground operations to continue on four of the sites. You may comment on the temporary permits through August 14. We urge everyone interested in healthy and diverse
wildlife populations to comment to: The Forest Service plans to hold a public meeting about this issue in Jackson on Aug. 28, 7 to 9 p.m. at the Jackson Hole Middle School commons area. Meanwhile, contact Alliance Public Lands Director Louise Lasley at (307) 733-9417 or louise@jhalliance.org for more information. The scoping document and map are available online at www.fs.fed.us/r4/btnf/projects.
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • (Back to top) 3) Targhee Leads List of County Development Issues The Conservation Alliance is monitoring a number of county private lands matters. Following is a brief roundup of meetings at which you may share your concerns; you may also email comments to commissioners@tetonwyo.org. Grand Targhee Resort
Hearing -- Sept. 5, 9
a.m., County Commissioners’ Chambers, 200
S. Willow St., Jackson LDR Amendments Regarding
Bald Eagles -- August
7, 9 a.m., County Commissioners’ Chambers,
200 S. Willow St., Jackson Osprey Creek (old
Teton Village Road KOA) Development Proposal -- August 20, 6 p.m., County Commissioners’ Chambers,
200 S. Willow St., Jackson Snake River Canyon
Ranch – August 21,
9 a.m., County Commissioners’ Chambers,
200 S. Willow St., Jackson Comprehensive Plan Public Kickoff tentatively
set for September • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • (Back to top) 4) Town’s Character Poised to Shift? The relationship between building size and Jackson’s community character continues to be an issue as councilors consider larger and larger developments proposed for downtown. Community character was a key debating point in town residents’ rejection of a sweeping redevelopment plan several years ago --Town Councilors approved the Downtown Redevelopment District, but voters rejected it in a recall election. Now it appears the Town may be switching tactics. Here’s a list of items currently being considered -- please attend these meetings and share your concerns, or email Mayor Mark Barron at mbarron@ci.jackson.wy.us and the Town Council at electedofficials@ci.jackson.wy.us. Amendment to Increase
Building Height from 35 to 42 feet in Commercial
Zones -- August 6, 6
p.m., Town Council Chambers, 150 E. Pearl, Jackson Amendment to Double
Lodging Square Footage --
August 6, 6 p.m., Town Council Chambers, 150
E. Pearl, Jackson Zoning Changes Proposed
for North Jackson --
Meeting dates to be determined • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • (Back to top) 5) Flat Creek Restoration Workshop Rescheduled to August 20 Originally scheduled as a 30-minute item on the July 16 Town Council Special Meeting and Workshop agenda, the Flat Creek Restoration Project is now set to be discussed on Aug. 20 at 3 p.m. in the Town Council Chambers, 150 E. Pearl, Jackson. The restoration project aims to improve the water quality, trout habitat and overall health of Flat Creek. Public comment is welcomed at the workshop, which will include a summary of the project to date and recommendations for next steps, such as adding in-stream structures south of Karns Meadow and/or modifications to already-integrated structures north of Karns Meadow. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • (Back to top) 6) Uphold U.S. Sen. Craig Thomas’ Legacy The death of U.S. Sen. Craig Thomas from leukemia
on June 4 was a huge loss not just for the people
of Wyoming, but for two of the senator’s
latest efforts: the Snake Headwaters Legacy Act
of 2007 (S. 1281), a bill to protect some 400
miles of 13 rivers and creeks in northwest Wyoming
from degradation and dam building; and legislation
Thomas had planned to introduce this summer that
would have limited oil and gas drilling in the
Wyoming Range. On June 22, Gov. Dave Freudenthal
appointed John Barrasso, a state senator and
orthopedic surgeon, to serve as Wyoming’s
interim junior senator until voters choose Sen.
Thomas’ successor in a 2008 special election.
Barrasso has said he wants to continue in Sen.
Thomas’ footsteps -- please encourage him
to do so by asking him to support these two measures. Please also consider urging the other two members
of Wyoming’s congressional delegation to
likewise honor Sen. Thomas’ legacy: • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • (Back to top) 7) Bridger-Teton National Forest Plan Revision Update More than half of the 3.4-million-acre Bridger-Teton National Forest -- including much of its best wildlife habitat -- is currently designated “suitable and available” for oil and gas leasing. For the past two years, forest officials have been working on a new plan originally due out in 2008 that would guide energy development and other management decisions for the next two decades. But in the wake of a court ruling in March that reinstated detailed environmental reviews during revision of forest management plans, officials put the public process on hold while they figured out how to comply with the court order. A notice in the May 11 Federal Register indicated that a draft environmental impact statement about the planning process itself would be out in July, with a final EIS expected in December, but it has yet to be published. Please stay tuned for information on opportunities to comment on the draft EIS once it’s out. Meanwhile, Bridger-Teton’s website (www.fs.fed.us/r4/btnf/news/forest_plan_revision) reports that public workshops will be rescheduled “as soon as legal circumstances permit,” and that the Plan Revision team is still working on “rule-neutral” tasks such as analyzing conditions and trends, identifying need for change and developing methods for evaluation. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • (Back to top) 8) Forest Still Taking Comments on Motorized Travel Plan Unrestricted motorized use is currently allowed on more than 250,000 acres of the northern part of the Bridger-Teton National Forest during the summer and fall. That use has resulted in miles of user-created trails, disturbed wildlife, habitat degradation, the spread of noxious weeds and increased soil sedimentation in trout streams. Forest officials are working on a travel plan to address these issues and would like the public to provide feedback on where motorized uses are and are not appropriate. Visit www.fs.fed.us/r4/btnf and click on “North Zone Travel Plan Revision” for details. Although the website states that comments were due Feb. 5, forest officials say they’re actually accepting them throughout the planning process at dwilkinson@fs.fed.us, or Attn. David Wilkinson, BTNF Travel Plan Process, P.O. Box 1689, Jackson, WY 83001. According to Wilkinson, the nearly 2,000 comments received so far have helped give direction to the planning team as they develop alternatives for a draft Environmental Impact Statement due out in January 2008. Forest officials are hosting motorized field trips for the public on Aug. 25, Aug. 26 and Sept. 8. Call the Jackson Ranger District at (307) 739-5544 for details. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • (Back to top) 9) Upcoming Events THURSDAY-SATURDAY, AUGUST 2, 3 & 4 WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 15 SATURDAY, AUGUST 18 SEPTEMBER 27-29 While Wyoming conservation groups, sportsmen and religious congregations have not worked together formally in the past, event organizers said they have noticed a great deal of overlap in their interests and volunteer work. The conference stems from about 15 of those religious organizations and congregations, and 15 conservation and sportsmen’s groups (including the Jackson Hole Conservation Alliance), which have begun establishing a partnership in support of mutual goals. Conference registration is underway online at www.wcvedfund.org or by calling (307) 335-8796. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • (Back to top) 10) Valley Echoes “Hope begins in the dark,
the stubborn hope that if you just show up - Anne Lamott
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Alliance Action is a publication of the Jackson Hole Conservation Alliance. The Jackson Hole Conservation Alliance is dedicated to responsible land stewardship in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, to ensure that human activities are in harmony with the area’s irreplaceable wildlife, scenic, and other natural resources. The Alliance is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization. (If you no longer wish to receive this e-newsletter, please send a note saying you’d like us to remove your email address from our list to: allianceaction@jhalliance.org.)
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