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Forest Service cancels meeting on Bitterroot
By PERRY BACKUS of the Missoulian
STEVENSVILLE - The Bitterroot National Forest abruptly canceled a public meeting in Stevensville on updating its travel management plan following a crowded and sometimes unruly meeting on the same topic the night before in Darby.
People cursed during the Darby meeting, and the U.S. Forest Service is following up on reports that a man suggested someone “put a bullet in her head” as a woman spoke.
The Stevensville meeting was scheduled for Thursday night at the Stevensville United Methodist Church.
After more than 200 people packed into a meeting room in Darby the night before, the agency decided the proposed Stevensville venue was too small to host the expected crowd.
Stevensville District Ranger Dan Ritter said the church couldn't hold many more than 50 people. Many at the Darby meeting indicated they'd be attending all the scheduled public meetings on the travel management plan update.
“We couldn't fit that many in there safely,” Ritter said. “Everything else in town was already booked.”
The Darby meeting turned unpleasant at times, according to some who attended.
“It was the ugliest meeting I've ever been to,” said Friends of the Bitterroot president Jim Miller. “It was very ugly and sad.”
Miller said the crowd was heavily weighted in favor of pro-motorized recreation. People were “aggressive, belligerent and angry. ... The ‘f-word' was used more than once in comments.”
“It was not a meeting that I would have liked to have my wife or kids at,” he said.
At one point, as a woman spoke about wilderness, a man in the crowd allegedly said, “Put a bullet in her head.” His words were loud enough for a number of people to hear, including a Forest Service official.
The Forest Service was able to get the man's name.
“We're aware of that comment and be assured we're going to follow up on it,” said Bitterroot National Forest spokesperson Nan Christianson.
The situation was intimidating for anyone who wanted to speak in favor of non-motorized recreation, Miller said.
“It was close to being out of control,” Miller said. “Consequently, there were people who were afraid to speak. I didn't feel safe there.”
Jim Hundley, of the Selway-Pintler Wilderness Backcountry Horsemen, called the meeting “basically a mob scene. ? It was very ugly and intimidating.”
Hundley said the Forest Service didn't appear to be prepared for the large turnout.
“I think the Forest Service is going to have to regroup,” he said. “They'll have to have more security at the next meeting.”
Both Miller and Hundley overhead the “bullet in the head” comment.
Ritter said the facilitator did a good job of controlling the meeting, considering the large crowd that included many people who were very frustrated.
Dan Thompson, of the Ravalli County Off-Road Users Association, agreed the meeting got out of hand.
“We really regret the inappropriate behavior of a few people,” Thompson said. “Fortunately, they weren't members of our organization. ? Hopefully people will be better behaved and respectful in the future.”
Thompson said he does believe it's important for motorized recreationists to step forward and have their voices heard. For years, Thompson said, Forest Service policy has reflected the interests of a few environmental groups over the general public.
“We want people to turn out for these meetings to break up that cozy little club,” he said. “The voice of the people needs to be heard.”
Still, comments like “bullet in the head” are “totally inappropriate,” he said. “We'd certainly agree with the sheriff escorting that person right on out of the meeting.”
Leaders of off-road groups may need to do more in helping keep future meetings under control, Thompson said.
The next travel management meeting is scheduled for Tuesday at the Bitterroot River Inn in Hamilton. The time of the meeting will be announced early next week.
A future meeting in Stevensville is also under consideration.
Ritter said the agency is discussing a potential format change for the upcoming meeting. Originally, the meetings were going to include an informational discussion after which people would break into smaller groups to offer specific comments.
That format is difficult to follow with large turnouts, he said.
Some people at the Darby meeting were there seeking further information about the process of updating the forest's travel plan, and others simply wanted to be heard, Ritter said.
That might require both a public hearing type of meeting, and another where people can sit down one-on-one with Forest Service employees, he said.
Finding a balance between motorized and non-motorized recreation is one of the most contentious issues facing managers of public lands everywhere.
The Bitterroot National Forest released a document officials called a “starting point” that explained the agency's initial ideas to begin the long process of updating the travel plan.
The deadline for the first round of public comment is Jan. 31. Plans call for completing a draft environmental impact statement by August. The final decision is due in 2009.
While there have been some changes through the years, the last time the plan was updated forestwide was in 1978.
Reporter Perry Backus can be reached at 1-800-366-7186 or at [email protected].
By PERRY BACKUS of the Missoulian
STEVENSVILLE - The Bitterroot National Forest abruptly canceled a public meeting in Stevensville on updating its travel management plan following a crowded and sometimes unruly meeting on the same topic the night before in Darby.
People cursed during the Darby meeting, and the U.S. Forest Service is following up on reports that a man suggested someone “put a bullet in her head” as a woman spoke.
The Stevensville meeting was scheduled for Thursday night at the Stevensville United Methodist Church.
After more than 200 people packed into a meeting room in Darby the night before, the agency decided the proposed Stevensville venue was too small to host the expected crowd.
Stevensville District Ranger Dan Ritter said the church couldn't hold many more than 50 people. Many at the Darby meeting indicated they'd be attending all the scheduled public meetings on the travel management plan update.
“We couldn't fit that many in there safely,” Ritter said. “Everything else in town was already booked.”
The Darby meeting turned unpleasant at times, according to some who attended.
“It was the ugliest meeting I've ever been to,” said Friends of the Bitterroot president Jim Miller. “It was very ugly and sad.”
Miller said the crowd was heavily weighted in favor of pro-motorized recreation. People were “aggressive, belligerent and angry. ... The ‘f-word' was used more than once in comments.”
“It was not a meeting that I would have liked to have my wife or kids at,” he said.
At one point, as a woman spoke about wilderness, a man in the crowd allegedly said, “Put a bullet in her head.” His words were loud enough for a number of people to hear, including a Forest Service official.
The Forest Service was able to get the man's name.
“We're aware of that comment and be assured we're going to follow up on it,” said Bitterroot National Forest spokesperson Nan Christianson.
The situation was intimidating for anyone who wanted to speak in favor of non-motorized recreation, Miller said.
“It was close to being out of control,” Miller said. “Consequently, there were people who were afraid to speak. I didn't feel safe there.”
Jim Hundley, of the Selway-Pintler Wilderness Backcountry Horsemen, called the meeting “basically a mob scene. ? It was very ugly and intimidating.”
Hundley said the Forest Service didn't appear to be prepared for the large turnout.
“I think the Forest Service is going to have to regroup,” he said. “They'll have to have more security at the next meeting.”
Both Miller and Hundley overhead the “bullet in the head” comment.
Ritter said the facilitator did a good job of controlling the meeting, considering the large crowd that included many people who were very frustrated.
Dan Thompson, of the Ravalli County Off-Road Users Association, agreed the meeting got out of hand.
“We really regret the inappropriate behavior of a few people,” Thompson said. “Fortunately, they weren't members of our organization. ? Hopefully people will be better behaved and respectful in the future.”
Thompson said he does believe it's important for motorized recreationists to step forward and have their voices heard. For years, Thompson said, Forest Service policy has reflected the interests of a few environmental groups over the general public.
“We want people to turn out for these meetings to break up that cozy little club,” he said. “The voice of the people needs to be heard.”
Still, comments like “bullet in the head” are “totally inappropriate,” he said. “We'd certainly agree with the sheriff escorting that person right on out of the meeting.”
Leaders of off-road groups may need to do more in helping keep future meetings under control, Thompson said.
The next travel management meeting is scheduled for Tuesday at the Bitterroot River Inn in Hamilton. The time of the meeting will be announced early next week.
A future meeting in Stevensville is also under consideration.
Ritter said the agency is discussing a potential format change for the upcoming meeting. Originally, the meetings were going to include an informational discussion after which people would break into smaller groups to offer specific comments.
That format is difficult to follow with large turnouts, he said.
Some people at the Darby meeting were there seeking further information about the process of updating the forest's travel plan, and others simply wanted to be heard, Ritter said.
That might require both a public hearing type of meeting, and another where people can sit down one-on-one with Forest Service employees, he said.
Finding a balance between motorized and non-motorized recreation is one of the most contentious issues facing managers of public lands everywhere.
The Bitterroot National Forest released a document officials called a “starting point” that explained the agency's initial ideas to begin the long process of updating the travel plan.
The deadline for the first round of public comment is Jan. 31. Plans call for completing a draft environmental impact statement by August. The final decision is due in 2009.
While there have been some changes through the years, the last time the plan was updated forestwide was in 1978.
Reporter Perry Backus can be reached at 1-800-366-7186 or at [email protected].
