Enviro's Oppose Biathlon Course on F S Land

[BigHornRam]

Montana biathlon course challenged





Associated Press - November 18, 2008 4:54 PM ET

HELENA, Mont. (AP) - Opponents of a plan to develop a military biathlon course on U.S. Forest Service land west of Helena have filed a lawsuit saying the agency inadequately considered environmental effects.

The Helena Hunters and Anglers Association is among those who filed the suit yesterday in federal court.

The case says the biathlon course on MacDonald Pass about 15 miles from Helena stands to harm wildlife and violate Forest Service standards for soil protection.

Calls seeking comment Tuesday from the Forest Service were not returned immediately.

Plans call for a National Guard course that would be groomed and open to the public when not in military use. The sport of biathlon involves rigorous cross-country skiing and target shooting.

 

[1_pointer]

That's funny...

 

[BigHornRam]

What's funny.......?

Here's a story on the proposed biathlon course with a little more info.....

Divide lands biathlon course in court
By SUSAN GALLAGHER Associated Press

Gayle Joslin, a retired Fish, Wildlife and Parks biologist, strolls through the proposed site of the Montana National Guard biathlon course on MacDonald Pass on Tuesday.
Photo by ELIZA WILEY/Helena Independent Record

HELENA - Critics of a plan to develop a military biathlon course on U.S. Forest Service land about 15 miles west of Helena have filed a lawsuit charging the agency gave scant attention to the project’s effect on wildlife.

The course on the eastern slope of the Continental Divide would severely diminish the area’s value to lynx, wolverines, wolves, grizzly bears, elk and moose, says the lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court by the Helena Hunters and Anglers Association, the Alliance for the Wild Rockies, American Wildlands and Native Ecosystems Council. The area provides wildlife a link to larger blocks of habitat to the north and south, says the suit against the Forest Service.

The groups want a federal judge in Missoula to block the project. (Would that be Judge Malloy?)

Plans call for a Montana National Guard course that would be groomed and open to cross-country skiing by the public when not in military use for biathlon, a sport that involves rigorous cross-country skiing and target shooting with .22-caliber rifles. For the military, the course on the Divide’s MacDonald Pass would be a place to train biathletes who would represent the National Guard in national and international competitions, perhaps even the Olympics.

Forest Service spokesman Rose Davis at the agency’s regional headquarters in Missoula was away from her office on an assignment Tuesday and did not immediately return a call seeking comment on the lawsuit, which was filed Monday. Helena Ranger Duane Harp, whose district includes the MacDonald Pass area, said he had not seen the suit.

“The National Guard, with approval from the Helena National Forest, simply cannot put a 50-car parking lot, five buildings, electricity, miles of new trails, 16 stream crossings and a shooting range in this 1.5-mile wide-strip of aspen, wetlands and conifer habitats, and still expect the area to meet the needs of wildlife,” Gayle Joslin of the Helena Hunters and Anglers Association said in a statement. Joslyn is a retired wildlife biologist for the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks.

She called the biathlon area a “pinch-point” with housing encroachment to the east, U.S. 12 crossing the Divide and “an uncertain future for private lands on the west.” Adding the biathlon course and expecting the place to remain viable as a wildlife corridor is unrealistic, Joslin said.

The Montana Department of Military Affairs and the Forest Service announced last Thursday that surveying for the course would begin within weeks. National Guard spokesman Maj. Tim Crowe said Tuesday that under a “very aggressive plan” for development, the biathlon course could be in use during the winter of 2009-2010.

The entire project would be on about 30 acres and would require removing trees from 18 acres within the 30, Harp said.

Helena National Forest Supervisor Kevin Riordan approved the project, a decision that environmental groups appealed unsuccessfully.

The lawsuit says that, besides harming wildlife and violating Forest Service standards for soil protection, the biathlon course would diminish public enjoyment of the MacDonald Pass area. It charges that Forest Service violations of federal environmental law include failure to analyze the

biathlon project’s cumulative effects.

 

[1_pointer]

What's funny??

1. That the military is choosing to do this on USFS lands instead of military lands where they could avoid all this rigamarole.
2. That someone thinks that 30 acres is really going to "severely diminish the area’s value to lynx, wolverines, wolves, grizzly bears, elk and moose"
3. How exactly does a biathalon course reduce soil protection?

 

[mtmiller]

Tyler, does a 1/2 acre gas well pad impact 1/2 acre?

 

[JoseCuervo]

The Military has a long history of destroying wildlife habitat. Just "training" can cause severe stress among wildlife. We had to fight a "training" range to keep from stressing California Sheep in the Owyhees..... Even FNAWS got involved, of course, the Idaho FNAWS seems to be more proactive than the Montana FNWAS and some of their members who seem OK with losing habitat.

 

[BigHornRam]

Thanks for the response Pointer.

1. That the military is choosing to do this on USFS lands instead of military lands where they could avoid all this rigamarole

The military probably doesn't have any high elevation yet accessable land that would be suitable for cross country skiing would be my guess.

2. That someone thinks that 30 acres is really going to "severely diminish the area’s value to lynx, wolverines, wolves, grizzly bears, elk and moose"

The 4 lane highway that passes right by the area probably already diminishes the area's value. A more remote, undeveloped area would make a more logical choice for a biathlon course.

3. How exactly does a biathalon course reduce soil protection?

Probably due to the heavy equiptment needed to put in the 50 car parking area, and to install culverts and trails. Also equiptment to remove the 17 acres of trees.

Maybe someone that lives closer to the area (like Smalls) and knows more about the project could comment? I've only been over that pass a handful of times, and am not real familiar with what habitat might be impacted.

 

[1_pointer]

Tyler, does a 1/2 acre gas well pad impact 1/2 acre?

Yes.

 

[1_pointer]

The military probably doesn't have any high elevation yet accessable land that would be suitable for cross country skiing would be my guess.

What about where they train the 10th Mountain Division...or a couple of those Air Force Bases in Colorado?

The 4 lane highway that passes right by the area probably already diminishes the area's value. QUOTE]I'm guessing that has a bit to do with what sorta makes it funny to me... Besides, if it's gonna be open for the public, when GI Joe's not using it, you have to be able to get a Suburu Outback up there.

Probably due to the heavy equiptment needed to put in the 50 car parking area, and to install culverts and trails. Also equiptment to remove the 17 acres of trees.

'Cmon, you build houses. Acceptable mitigation for that can't be had? You'll have to do more to convince me of that...

 

[BigHornRam]

What about where they train the 10th Mountain Division...or a couple of those Air Force Bases in Colorado?

It's for the MONTANA National Guard. Kinda far for them to travel. If you think about it, MacDonald Pass is a pretty good central location for Montana, at least for a state the size of Montana.

'Cmon, you build houses. Acceptable mitigation for that can't be had? You'll have to do more to convince me of that...

Not trying to convince you Pointer......just the enviros and their pet judge!

 

[Calif. Hunter]

Don't National Guard units travel all the time for training? We see them from all states at various California bases - Camp Pendleton, Fort Hunter Liggett, all over the desert bases, etc.

What do the current Fish and Game people say about it?

 

[JoseCuervo]

It's for the MONTANA National Guard. Kinda far for them to travel. If you think about it, MacDonald Pass is a pretty good central location for Montana, at least for a state the size of Montana.

Where does the HAWAII National Guard train? I am sure they travel to do their Biathalon training, same with the TEXAS National Guard, and the FLORIDA National Guard.

Why are the Montana Guard units afraid to travel?

 

[Calif. Hunter]

Afraid to leave their sheep?

 

[BigHornRam]

Where does the HAWAII National Guard train? I am sure they travel to do their Biathalon training, same with the TEXAS National Guard, and the FLORIDA National Guard.

Why are the Montana Guard units afraid to travel?

Need to start thinking locally Jose. What with the large carbon foot print of flying all over the country and that $150, I mean $50 / barrel oil........