By Jessica Edwards
Temsco Helicopters recently withdrew a tour permit request in
connection with increasing the number of landings in the Haines Borough, questioning
whether it was legally required to hold the license for summer helicopter tours on
federally managed land.
"We’re not conceding anything," said borough manager
Robert Venables. "Operating a tour in Haines requires a tour permit." He said
the borough would assess legal information provided by Temsco before responding.
Meanwhile, about 20 residents turned out Monday for a U.S. Forest
Service meeting on a request by Temsco to increase by 2,800 its landings on within the
Haines Borough.
If granted, the increase would more than double the number of landings
currently allowed on Forest Service and federal Bureau of Land Management lands within
Haines Borough. Public comment on the proposed increase ends June 12, and a draft
environmental analysis is due out in September. A final environmental analysis will be
issued in March.
Issues discussed included effects of increased helicopter traffic on
residents, recreationalists, and wildlife in the borough, possible duration of the permit,
and the potential impact on borough tax rolls.
The borough assembly has yet to decide whether to grant Temsco a tour
permit to operate in the borough. The company operated in the borough about without a
business license for 15 years. Last season, Temsco made 810 landings last season on the
Ferebee and 1,851 on the Meade.
Temsco seeks more landings on the Meade because melting of West Creek
Glacier, on BLM land within the Skagway Borough, has created icefalls and obliterated
flat, safe landing zones for tours. The company proposes to shift the 2,800 landings they
were allowed on the West Creek to the Meade.
Meridian Environmental, a Seattle-based company, is conducting the
environmental analysis on behalf of Temsco. Meridian representative Jeff Boyce said the
permit would likely be for five years, but the final decision would be the district
ranger’s.
The Forest Service requires an analysis of the biological and social
impacts of increased landings on Meade Glacier because the request exceeds the current
4,460 maximum landings currently allowed by a previous analysis in what the Forest Service
calls "the Skagway area," which includes the Meade Glacier. Temsco is permitted
for 4,006 of those landings and used 4,000 last year.
Paul Reichert, tour manager for Skagway operations, said daily landings
on the Meade Glacier could be as high as 48 per day in peak season if all helicopters were
running. If the increase was granted, but the number of days at maximum capacity would
increase, Reichert said.
Alexandra Feit expressed concern that increased traffic to the Meade
would mean more helicopter noise over the waters of Lynn Canal, especially in bad weather
years.
Resident Scott Carey said a 1996 voters initiative indicated 55 percent
of those at the polls opposed summer helicopter tourism in the Haines Borough, and
questioned why the Forest Service would consider allowing additional landings on the Meade
regardless.
He said additional flights would impact Haines’ reputation as a
quiet tour destination, and helicopter noise negatively impacted wildlife. "I
don’t think your proposal warrants more landings in the Haines Borough," Carey
said.
Don Turner said during numerous hunting trips to the Katzehin in the
past decade, he had observed no ill effects on wildlife by Temsco helicopters flying to
the Meade. "I can’t see that wildlife’s being disturbed up there." He
said until recently, few people in Haines were aware of Temsco’s activity in the
borough.
Leonard Dubber concurred, and said it was his experience that mountain
goats were not adversely affected by helicopter activity.
Driscoll said the Forest Service could award permits on federally
managed lands regardless of municipal rulings, but whether or not Temsco could operate in
the borough if denied a municipal tour permit would be a question for attorneys.
Under the standing National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
environmental analysis completed in 1995, 1,100 landings are allowed on the Meade.
In the course of the meeting, Reichert said his company made 1,800
landings on Meade last year.
Driscoll said his agency was aware Temsco had exceeded the original
allowances of 1,100 set in the 1995 environmental analysis, and had decided to use an
areawide standard. "The Forest Service has decided to manage the entire Skagway area
by not exceeding 4,006 landings."
"I’m a little bit concerned about the latitude you have in
overriding NEPA policies in a given permit," said George Figdor. "What Forest
Service policies allow you to change NEPA findings to allow more landings without public
input? Do you have latitude to do that? I can’t see how this permit violation was
overlooked by the Forest Service."
Bald eagle foundation founder Dave Olerud said limiting Temsco’s
operation would cost the borough valuable sales tax revenue.
Gordon Whitermore said he was concerned that upping the number of
landings gave Temsco a stronger foothold in the Borough, and pointed to the
municipality’s difficulties regulating the growing heli-ski industry. "We have
no higher authority to go to."
Comments on Temsco’s proposal should be submitted to Pete Griffin,
District Ranger, Tongass National Forest, 8510 Mendenhall Loop Rd., Juneau, AK, 99801. For
more information, contact Driscoll at 907-789-6282.
