Suit: Chopper Landings Violate the Law in the Frank Church
Thursday, February 4, 2010
BOISE, Idaho - A U.S. Forest Service plan to land helicopters in the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness doesn't fly with conservation groups. Six have filed suit to stop the plan, saying landing helicopters would violate the law under wilderness designation. Idaho Fish and Game wants to use helicopters to capture and collar wolves.
John Robison, public lands director for the Idaho Conservation League, says landing helicopters in wilderness for such a project is not needed.
"We think that it's possible to manage and monitor the wolves through ground-based methods. The Nez Perce Tribe managed to collar over 30 wolves using traditional methods."
Fish and Game wants to use helicopters because it's faster, and the agency says it will save money. But, allowing helicopter landings would set an unwanted precedent, says Robison, for more motorized access in an area that was to be left motor-free by agreement.
"We decided that the Frank Church was different. It's the last of what once was. It's very important to meet this wild country on its own terms."
Joining the League's lawsuit are The Wilderness Society, Sierra Club, Winter Wildlands Alliance, Great Old Broads for Wilderness, and Wilderness Watch.
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