Field Reports

WILDERNESS

Wild Sky stymied

The chairman of the U.S. House Resources Committee says he won’t allow a vote on a bipartisan proposal for a new Washington state wilderness area as it is currently written.

The latest proposal for a Wild Sky wilderness northeast of Seattle is flawed because about 16,000 of the approximately 105,000 acres contain roads, bridges or have previously been harvested for timber, Rep. Richard Pombo, R-Calif., wrote to Rep. George Nethercutt, R-Wash.

Only land “untrammeled by man,” as required by the 1964 Wilderness Act, can be considered for wilderness designation, Pombo said.

Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., and Rep. Rick Larsen, D-Wash., have championed the bill for two years and Nethercutt joined the effort this year. The proposal agreed to by Nethercutt, Murray and Larsen would protect about 2,700 fewer acres than a bill by Murray that previously passed the Senate but stalled in the GOP-controlled House.

A frustrated Mike Spahn, a spokesman for Murray, said areas eventually designated as wilderness in Virginia, Alabama and Oregon all contained logging roads.

“To allow a member of Congress from a thousand miles away to dictate what will be designated as wilderness in our own state is unacceptable,” Spahn said before Congress adjourned for an August recess.

Pombo has long opposed the creation of more wilderness in the United States. If the bill were put up for a vote it would be only the second time Pombo has allowed that in his committee, Nethercutt said earlier.

Staff and wire reports

HUNTING

I-655 review requested

The Washington State Attorney General’s Office has asked the state Supreme Court to review a recent lower court decision that ruled unconstitutional an initiative banning the use of bait and hounds in hunting.

Initiative 655, approved by voters in 1996, makes it unlawful to hunt bears and cougars with the aid of bait or dogs. In June, a Jefferson County District Court judge ruled that I-655 violates the Washington State Constitution by dealing with more than one subject. As a result of that ruling, charges against several defendants accused of unlawfully hunting black bear with bait were dismissed.

Attorney General Christine Gregoire has asked for a review by the Supreme Court in order to eliminate confusion throughout the state regarding enforcement of the law.

“We’re asking the Supreme Court to resolve the legal questions so we can ensure uniform hunting regulations statewide and avoid the time and cost of on-going litigation over I-655,” Gregoire said in a news release.

Rich Landers

NATIONAL FORESTS

ATV accidents reported

A flurry of accidents involving all-terrain vehicles has prompted Clearwater National Forest officials to remind riders of dangers in motoring on forest trails and roads.

“Some of the accidents have occurred in areas, on trails or roads that are closed to ATV use,” said Jill Forth, forest law enforcement officer. “Those areas, trails or roads are closed for a reason, public safety!”

The forest publishes free travel and trail guides that show which roads and trails are open to motorized use.

Rich Landers

NATIONAL FORESTS

Colville road plan out

The public has until Aug. 20 to comment in the early stages of plans for managing primary roads in the Colville National Forest.

Officials say the public comment will help them manage a safe, affordable and environmentally sound primary road system totaling about 370 miles of paved and gravel routes leading to various destinations, including developed recreation sites.

“The main emphasis of this analysis is to bring our maintenance requirements in line with anticipated forest budgets,” said Ginger Gilmore, the Colville’s roads analysis coordinator. “Currently the Forest receives less than half the funding necessary to maintain our system roads.”

The initial roads analysis and maps area available for review from Colville National Forest, 765 S. Main St., Colville, WA 99114, telephone (509) 684-7000 or at ranger districts.

Rich Landers