S
Lawmakers create volcano panel
Wednesday, November 28, 2007 5:12 AM PST
By Barbara LaBoe
http://www.tdn.com/articles/2007/11/28/area_news/doc474d0d2820c8f734995833.txt
Saying it's worth getting all the facts, U.S. Rep. Brian Baird and Sen. Maria Cantwell are creating an advisory committee to examine whether Mount St. Helens should become a national park.
And commissioners of Cowlitz, Lewis and Skamania counties are planning their own retreat in January to study the issue, said Cowlitz County Chairwoman Kathleen Johnson.
Baird, D-Vancouver, remains neutral about the park idea, but said the committee will examine both the pros and cons of National Park Service versus U.S. Forest Service management of the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument. The goal, Baird said, is to get all the facts straight so everyone can make informed decisions.
Advocates of making the monument a national park say it will receive more federal funding and greater national prominence, helping all the surrounding communities.
Opponents contend that a national park would further restrict outdoor access to area and say the real solution is more funding through the Forest Service.
It would take an act of Congress to transfer the monument from the Forest Service to the Parks Service. Because the land is in his district, politically the plan would need Baird's support to go forward.
But Baird said there is no preconceived agenda for the advisory committee.
"I don't have a bias one way or the other," he said. "I just want what's best for the local communities and the resource. ... And I think it's worthwhile to get the facts on the ground correct as we all consider the issue."
The committee will be made up of local stakeholders and likely also will include local and legislative staffers from both Baird's and Cantwell's offices. Baird and Cantwell may attend some meetings as schedules allow and may attend others via conference calls, Baird said. In addition, representatives from both the parks and forest service will be asked to share information, and other groups also may be invited to participate.
Baird said the committee's membership is still being confirmed, but Johnson said Tuesday that she had been contacted and will represent Cowlitz County.
Meeting dates have not yet been set and likely won't happen until after the holidays, Baird said. There also is no deadline for the committee to finish its work, Baird said, to ensure all views and options are examined.
In addition to the Baird-Cantwell committee, Johnson said commissioners from the three affected counties already agreed to meet in January for their own Mount St. Helens retreat. It's possible Clark County officials also will be asked to attend.
"Mount St. Helens kind of connects us all," she said. "We all have issues (about Mount St. Helens) and inside all of that will be decisions (about) how we all go forward, whether that's the Park Service of the Forest Service or a hybrid of both -- and I think we're leaning toward the hybrid but need more information."
Cowlitz commissioners wrote a letter supporting the national park plan in July but rescinded it in October after outcry about access and possible air quality regulations. Commissioners haven't revisited the matter since, Johnson said, because they've been focused on the upcoming budget.
us rep baird Phone: (360) 695-6292
Cowlitz county
Telephone:
360-577-3020
Office Hours:
8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
E-Mail the Board of Commissioners:
cowlitz@co.cowlitz.wa.us
Skamania County
Paul Pearce Commissioner District 1 Chairman
Jim "JR" Richardson Commissioner District 2
Jamie Tolfree Commissioner District 3
Phone: 509-427-3700
Wednesday, November 28, 2007 5:12 AM PST
By Barbara LaBoe
http://www.tdn.com/articles/2007/11/28/area_news/doc474d0d2820c8f734995833.txt
Saying it's worth getting all the facts, U.S. Rep. Brian Baird and Sen. Maria Cantwell are creating an advisory committee to examine whether Mount St. Helens should become a national park.
And commissioners of Cowlitz, Lewis and Skamania counties are planning their own retreat in January to study the issue, said Cowlitz County Chairwoman Kathleen Johnson.
Baird, D-Vancouver, remains neutral about the park idea, but said the committee will examine both the pros and cons of National Park Service versus U.S. Forest Service management of the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument. The goal, Baird said, is to get all the facts straight so everyone can make informed decisions.
Advocates of making the monument a national park say it will receive more federal funding and greater national prominence, helping all the surrounding communities.
Opponents contend that a national park would further restrict outdoor access to area and say the real solution is more funding through the Forest Service.
It would take an act of Congress to transfer the monument from the Forest Service to the Parks Service. Because the land is in his district, politically the plan would need Baird's support to go forward.
But Baird said there is no preconceived agenda for the advisory committee.
"I don't have a bias one way or the other," he said. "I just want what's best for the local communities and the resource. ... And I think it's worthwhile to get the facts on the ground correct as we all consider the issue."
The committee will be made up of local stakeholders and likely also will include local and legislative staffers from both Baird's and Cantwell's offices. Baird and Cantwell may attend some meetings as schedules allow and may attend others via conference calls, Baird said. In addition, representatives from both the parks and forest service will be asked to share information, and other groups also may be invited to participate.
Baird said the committee's membership is still being confirmed, but Johnson said Tuesday that she had been contacted and will represent Cowlitz County.
Meeting dates have not yet been set and likely won't happen until after the holidays, Baird said. There also is no deadline for the committee to finish its work, Baird said, to ensure all views and options are examined.
In addition to the Baird-Cantwell committee, Johnson said commissioners from the three affected counties already agreed to meet in January for their own Mount St. Helens retreat. It's possible Clark County officials also will be asked to attend.
"Mount St. Helens kind of connects us all," she said. "We all have issues (about Mount St. Helens) and inside all of that will be decisions (about) how we all go forward, whether that's the Park Service of the Forest Service or a hybrid of both -- and I think we're leaning toward the hybrid but need more information."
Cowlitz commissioners wrote a letter supporting the national park plan in July but rescinded it in October after outcry about access and possible air quality regulations. Commissioners haven't revisited the matter since, Johnson said, because they've been focused on the upcoming budget.
us rep baird Phone: (360) 695-6292
Cowlitz county
Telephone:
360-577-3020
Office Hours:
8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
E-Mail the Board of Commissioners:
cowlitz@co.cowlitz.wa.us
Skamania County
Paul Pearce Commissioner District 1 Chairman
Jim "JR" Richardson Commissioner District 2
Jamie Tolfree Commissioner District 3
Phone: 509-427-3700
