Shortage Of Trust In Bitterroot Grizzly Plan Many People Not Sold On Proposal To Reintroduce Animals

An attorney for the National Wildlife Federation says acceptance of a compromise grizzly bear reintroduction plan for the Bitterroot Mountains comes down to trust.

That appears to be in short supply among all the players.

Thomas France of Missoula, said Idaho Gov. Phil Batt does not trust Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt to delegate management of grizzlies to a 15-member citizens committee.

“How do we know down deep in Bruce Babbitt’s heart there isn’t a secret plan here? We don’t think there is,” France said Thursday in Lewiston. “But we think that is a valid concern and we think it ought to be addressed.”

The citizens committee is part of a compromise proposal created by the Intermountain Forest Industry Association, Resource Organization on Timber Supply, Defenders of Wildlife and the National Wildlife Federation.

The committee appointed by Babbitt would supervise the reintroduction of three to five bears a year for up to five years into the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness Area.

The committee’s goal would be to restore the bears and minimize the impact on the local economy and communities. Supporters of the compromise plan want to work with Batt and Idaho’s congressional delegation to boost their comfort with the proposal.

All five Republicans have declared their opposition.

There is tension between Babbitt’s responsibilities under the Endangered Species Act and Batt’s duties to the state, France said.

Under the proposal, the committee’s authority could be revoked if its actions do not lead to bear recovery.

“Washington, D.C., can veto or override any decision that they make, so it isn’t really local control,” said Batt’s spokesman, Frank Lockwood.

Phil Church of the Lewiston-based Resource Organization on Timber Supply said he does not know whether he trusts Babbitt.

But he trusts the process through which the compromise was developed enough to believe the National Wildlife Federation and Defenders of Wildlife would talk to Babbitt about fixing the plan if it got into trouble.

ROOTS is a timber industry and union group, and Church said the entire membership does not support the proposal.

“They believe in everything we have done,” he said. “But there are groups within ROOTS that will back the governor’s position.”

France pointed out Republican Montana Gov. Marc Racicot supports the plan.