North Cascades Grizzly Plan Reopened Pt 2
I'm Bob Larson. On Thursday, the Department of Interior announced that October 24th is the deadline for the reopened public comment period on the North Cascades Grizzly Bear Restoration Plan.
The plan was shelved last August, so it was a surprise for many both for and opposed.
U.S. Representative Dan Newhouse says he'll definitely be looking into it ...
NEWHOUSE ... "I haven't had a chance to visit with the Secretary since we learned about this, but I think this is an effort on their part to be certain that they do get how people feel about this issue and before any action is taken, that's what they need to do."
But, Newhouse says there is a group that should be given priority ...
NEWHOUSE ... "The folks living right there that would potentially have bears literally in their backyard, that should be the loudest voices that the agencies hear."
Newhouse has long opposed the plan, supporting those impacted directly ...
NEWHOUSE ... "It's very easy for someone that lives miles from the effected area to be in support of reintroduction of a species, any species, but in this case the grizzly bear, if you don't have to deal with it on a daily basis."
So, the plan for now ...
NEWHOUSE ... "I'd say let's use this as just that, a welcome opportunity to make Washington D.C. understand once and for all how we feel about this issue."
Go to the National Park Service website to weigh in before the deadline, October 24th
https://parkplanning.nps.gov/grizzlydeis
