tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5149418533455483604.post1126763558882843760..comments2023-08-01T03:05:39.288-07:00Comments on NCCC: PRATT WILDERNESS and SAUSAGE MAKINGPhil Fennerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06553929888011931156noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5149418533455483604.post-9333604762773091842014-12-23T09:37:59.399-08:002014-12-23T09:37:59.399-08:00The NDAA has only a brief mention of the Stehekin ...The NDAA has only a brief mention of the Stehekin road, saying merely that "the Secretary (meaning, in this case, the Interior Secretary, for the Park Service,) "may" adjust the boundary of the Mather Wilderness to construct a road in the Stehekin. Crucially, it does not say "shall." It also does not say "notwithstanding any other provision of law," the usual code words for suspension of NEPA, so presumably there would have to be the normal environmental analysis. As things stand, there is no money for a Stehekin road at a time when there is no money for any number of other roads which are washed out or crumbling in place after place. There is only the provision that the Park Service "may" adjust the Wilderness boundary, when they have no money to build or maintain a road there. Will the Park Service take money away from other struggling units of its system to build a road to nowhere in Stehekin, a road that connects to no other road and which only a handful of vehicles could ever drive on? The more you think about it, the less likely it seems. Stranger things have happened, though. We'll see.<br />Phil Fennerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06553929888011931156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5149418533455483604.post-59805888968385679102014-12-22T20:09:35.873-08:002014-12-22T20:09:35.873-08:00This is a very thoughtful, nicely written assessme...This is a very thoughtful, nicely written assessment. I'm glad to hear the Stehekin Road is not a done deal; I repeatedly called and emailed Senators Cantwell and Murray, asking them to oppose that provision, but to no avail. <br /> Aside from the question of funding, would a new upper Stehekin Road require the usual NEPA/public comment process? There's been almost no news coverage of this, so I don't really know exactly what the NDAA specified about the Stehekin Road.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com