August 18, 2007
To: Chief Kimbell, Deputy Chief Collins, RF Tidwell, DRF McAllister &
R-1 Forest Supervisors,
On Friday July 17, president Bush ordered the managers of the land
administered by the USFS and BLM to look for more room for hunters to
hunt on this land and to step up efforts to conserve places where
wildlife roam.
I am troubled by the first part of this request. As you know, I am a
retired Forest Service employee. My entire career was spent in R-1.
First, one of the agency's current priorities is to enhance wildlife
habitat on the public land it manages. The managers of the BLM and USFS
know that surveys have shown that for every hunter that uses public
land, there are between 260 and 280 other recreationists using public
land who prefer to obtain their enjoyment from viewing living animals.
This survey included children.
Of course Bush's advisors researched this fact and told the president
before he made the announcement below. The president obviously didn't
think it was important.
Second, hunting licenses, tags, and determininghunting units are the
sole responsibility of the state Fish and Game Departments. The public
lands provide the location for people to hunt that choose to hunt.
Never before in the history of the Forest Service has the agency
favored one recreational usewhich simultaneously degrades another ...
especially when the one being favored is used by a minority of forest
visitors.
Of course Bush's advisors researched these facts and told the
president before he made the announcement below. The president obviously
didn't think they were important.
Clearly, there is at least one way forest supervisors might comply
with the presidents orders ... open more gates during hunting season
that have previously been closed to protect the natural resources of the
forest. In some cases these gates were closes to reduce the hunting
pressure on some wildlife species.
The Forest Service gave me the opportunity to workon a regular basis
with the NEPA for 11 years. I can cite important sections from memory. I
know that any (emphasis added) changes made to the past management of
any national forest to comply with Bush's order will require a new NEPA
Decision.
I will just remind you that I have very effective search methods and
when I find out that a gate was opened (or another action taken) to
comply with Bush's order, it will be instant lawsuit time, since there
will be no Decision for me to appeal.
Chief Kimbell andDeputy Chief Collins never respond to my comments
... even when I request a response, so I won't expect to hear from them.
Therefore, I ask this of you RF Tidwell and DRF McAllister. Please
email me a short note so that I know: 1) you are in receipt of this
message, and 2) you understand my concern.
Thank you.
Dick Artley
Dick Artley
415 East North 2nd
Grangeville, Idaho 83530
dartley@connectwireless.us
CC via their WEB forms to:
Senator Jeff Bingaman, Chairman, Committee on Energy and Natural
Resources
Senator Ron Wyden, Subcommittee on Public Lands and Forests
Rep. Nick J. Rahall, Chairman, House Committee on Natural Resources
Rep. Raul Grijalva, Parks, Chairman, Forests and Public Lands
Subcommittee
