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January 2011 Alliance Action

1) Jackson meeting on Hoback Wells set for Jan. 18; comments due March 10
2) Bridger-Teton seeks scoping comments on forest thinning project by Jan. 14
3) Facilitator hiring decision now expected at Jan. 4 Comp Plan meeting
4) Other town and county planning news
5) Wildlife updates
6) Add your two cents (or more!) to Wyoming Legislature’s debates
7) Coming Events
8) Valley Voices

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1) Jackson meeting on Hoback Wells set for Jan. 18; comments due March 10

On Dec. 9, Bridger-Teton National Forest officials released the draft environmental impact statement on a proposal to drill 136 natural gas wells in the pristine Noble Basin area of the forest near Bondurant. Disappointingly, the study’s preferred alternative for this project known as Hoback Wells appears to support Plains Exploration and Production Company's "full field" drilling plan, with only some seasonal wildlife restrictions and air quality stipulations.

PXP's proposal threatens to transform prime wildlife habitat in the Upper Hoback -- just 40 miles southeast of Jackson -- into an industrial web of roads and well pads. (Click here for a photo of the area, and click here for a map.) This could harm Jackson Hole’s air quality and our wildlife, many of which rely on this area for migration corridors and as a place to bear their young. Pollution of the headwaters of the Hoback River is also a concern; click here for a flier outlining these and other issues.

Public comments on the draft EIS are due by March 10, 2011. The analysis is available by clicking here. You can mail your comments to Bridger-Teton National Forest Supervisor Jacqueline A. Buchanan, P.O. Box 1888, Jackson, WY 83001, email them to comments-intermtn-bridger-teton-big-piney@fs.fed.us with the subject line “Eagle Prospect and Noble Basin MDP DEIS,” or make them in person at a public forum in Jackson on Tuesday, Jan. 18, 7 to 9 p.m. at Snow King Resort's Grand Room, 400 E. Snow King Ave. Two other public meetings have also been scheduled: in Bondurant on Jan. 19, 7 to 9 p.m. at the Bondurant School auditorium, 14224 Hwy. 189/191; and in Pinedale on Jan. 20, 7 to 9 p.m. at the Sublette County Library, 155 S. Tyler Ave.

You can also call U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar's office at (202) 208-7351 and ask that he take action to stop this proposed Hoback Wells project -- this area is just too special to drill.

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2) Bridger-Teton seeks scoping comments on forest thinning project by Jan. 14

Bridger-Teton officials are working on plans for a project intended to reduce the danger of forest fires next to residences from Teton Village south along the Fish/Fall Creek Road corridor all the way to the Snake River Canyon. Approximately 23,000 acres are being considered for fuel-reduction (using mechanical thinning and prescribed burns) within an 80,000-acre swath.

Details regarding the proposed “Teton to Snake Fuels Management Project” are available by clicking here. Forest officials would like your comments on the proposal by Jan. 14 to help them identify issues, develop alternatives and predict the project’s environmental effects. Issues of concern to the Alliance include work proposed within the Palisades Wilderness Study Area and inventoried roadless areas, and the impacts on wildlife that could occur due to fragmentation, removal of vegetation, road construction, harm to soil and watershed integrity, and overall loss of habitat. Click here for our scoping comments on this project.

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3) Facilitator hiring decision now expected at Jan. 4 Comp Plan meeting

January marks the start of the fifth year of the Jackson/Teton County Comprehensive Plan revision process, and the town and county elected officials are moving toward what many hope will be the final phase. The Alliance is hosting an open house on the status of the revision on Jan. 19, noon to 1 p.m. at our office, 685 S. Cache St. (See Coming Events below for details.)

Meanwhile, here’s a recap of recent events: At a Dec. 20 Jackson Town Council workshop and Dec. 21 Teton Board of County Commissioners meeting, planning staff updated the electeds on the progress of the committee charged with hiring a facilitator for the remaining review process. (The idea of also hiring a communicator and writer has been tabled for the time being.) Basically, the committee is going to recommend to the electeds at their joint meeting on Jan. 4, 3 to 5 p.m. at Town Hall, 150 E. Pearl, that they consider hiring AECOM, a company based in Colorado, and its project manager Bruce Meighen. Click here for the full staff report.

If a facilitator is hired, they’ll work with the planning staff and elected officials to design and implement the remaining review process for the draft Comp Plan. Review of the themes and policies segment of the draft plan might then begin later in January. (The current draft is available by clicking here. You can make comments on the draft online at the bottom of that web page at any time.)

(UPDATE: On Jan. 4, the town and county elected officials decided to go ahead and hire AECOM for about $78,000 to facilitate their review of the draft Comp Plan during the next six or seven months. According to what's laid out in the staff report (click here), AECOM will start off by identifying stakeholders to be included in the review process, looking over all the planning documents and comments, and interviewing elected officials. Teton County planning director Jeff Daugherty says that the first thing AECOM's project manager Bruce Meighen will do is "design a process for going forward and get everybody to agree on the process." A firm schedule for the review is yet to be determined, although the electeds will likely discuss it again at their next joint meeting, set for Feb. 7 at Town Hall.)

As this process moves forward, the Alliance remains committed to working for a Comp Plan that upholds the community’s vision and protects our wildlife and natural resources. We’ll keep you posted as a more concrete schedule emerges. Meanwhile, please click here for links to all of our comments on the Comp Plan revision. For recaps of all the Comp Plan hearings to date and previews of upcoming meetings, click here; for background info, click here and here.

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4) Other town and county planning news

Here’s a partial roundup of additional community planning matters, but please keep in mind that all meetings noted below are subject to change. Call the Town of Jackson at (307) 733-3932, Teton County at (307) 733-8094, or reach Becky Tillson at Rebecca@jhalliance.org or (307) 733-9417 for confirmation. Also, this list isn’t exhaustive, since many meeting agendas aren’t finalized until shortly before the meeting takes place. Check back here or visit www.ci.jackson.wy.us and www.tetonwyo.org for updates. If you’d like to comment on any of these items, contact information for all local public officials is available by clicking here.

TOWN COUNCIL TO RECONSIDER RUSTIC INN'S FLAT CREEK PLAN: Jackson Town Council, Jan. 3, 6 p.m., Town Hall, 150 E. Pearl. In December, town councilors approved plans to turn a residential lot bordering Flat Creek behind the Rustic Inn at Jackson Hole into an event and gathering spot for the hotel. According to an agenda that wasn't posted on the Town of Hackson website until midmorning on Jan. 3, the council has decided to reconsider this approval, based on a request from Councilor Greg Miles. Miles cited questions regarding whether the council was presented with all the information about the project, located at 527 N. Cache St., and what benefits the town and public would be receiving in return for allowing the change in use. Click here for the planning staff's report. (UPDATE: After nearly two hours of discussion and public comment during the Jan. 3 meeting, the town councilors again voted to approve this project.)

TETON BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MEETINGS SET FOR JAN. 4 and 18: 9 a.m., County commissioners’ chambers, 200 S. Willow. Agendas for these regularly scheduled meetings are available via www.tetonwyo.org/minutes.

TOWN & COUNTY JOINT INFORMATION MEETING JAN. 4: Jackson Town Council and Teton Board of County Commissioners, Jan. 4, 3 to 5 p.m., Town Hall, 150 E. Pearl. The town and county elected officials will gather for their monthly joint meeting on Jan. 4. (This meeting was postponed from its originally scheduled date of Jan. 3.) Among other matters, they’re scheduled to discuss the hiring of outside help for the ongoing Comp Plan review (see Item #3 above for details). They’re also expected to discuss the new travel and tourism board that will administer funds from the recently approved lodging tax. The full agenda for this JIM is available by clicking here.

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5) Wildlife updates

YOUR INPUT WANTED ON ELK REFUGE CONSERVATION PLAN: When we think of the National Elk Refuge, most of us think of elk and bison. But many more species of wildlife (at least 47 mammal species and nearly 175 species of birds) plus a variety of habitats also exist on the nearly 25,000-acre refuge. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service officials have begun to develop a “comprehensive conservation plan” for the refuge that will spell out how these other species -- as well as visitor activities, such as hunting, fishing and wildlife-viewing -- will be managed for the next 15 years.

Fish and Wildlife is hosting an open house on Jan. 11, 4 to 7 p.m. at Snow King Resort’s Grand Teton Room, 400 E. Snow King Ave., to gather public comments that they’ll use to help determine the scope of an environmental assessment as part of this planning process.

The Alliance sees the benefits of assessing the health and sustainability of all the species of the refuge. We also recognize that these findings will need to be incorporated into the refuge’s management policies for elk and bison, which were finalized in 2007. Additional concerns are the impacts of human activity occurring on adjacent lands and on the refuge itself. Recreational use of the road through the refuge, the new pathway on the west side, and hunting and fishing all have impacts on this area that is currently managed as off-limits to human activity. As our population grows, we need to determine if these impacts could end up violating the dual mission of the Wildlife Refuge System to “provide for the conservation of fish, wildlife and plants, and their habitats within the system” and to “ensure that the biological integrity, diversity and environmental health of the system are maintained for the benefit of present and future generations of Americans.” We also see more need to accommodate wildlife as their habitat is converted to other uses or is diminished due to climate change. Please attend the meeting on Jan. 11 and find out how you can help ensure that future management policies will protect all the species becoming increasingly dependent upon the refuge.

WOLVERINES WARRANT ENDANGERED SPECIES PROTECTION, BUT DENIED DUE TO BACKLOG: In mid-December, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service determined that wolverines warrant protection under the federal Endangered Species Act, but decided to withhold those protections indefinitely due to the backlog of other species in more imminent danger of becoming extinct. According to Louise Lasley, Alliance public lands director, “The good news is that their low numbers and diminishing habitat have been recognized as significant factors in wolverine survival. The bad news is that they have been added to a growing list of species that have to wait until they eventually reach a critical threshold to be listed as threatened or endangered.”Click here for more on this issue.

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6) Add your two cents (or more!) to Wyoming Legislature’s debates

The next general session of the Wyoming Legislature is set to convene on Jan. 11, 2011. During the following 40 or so days, state legislators will consider a slew of potential laws, and you can help inform their debates. Here’s how:

- The schedule for the general session and all committee meetings will be posted and updated daily at http://legisweb.state.wy.us.

- This website is also where you can read and download the text of proposed legislation and track a bill’s status as it moves through the legislative process.

- Bills are listed on the website by subject and by who introduced it; you can also find out what committee the bill has been assigned to.

- Check the link “Schedules/Calendars/Meetings” (updated each afternoon during the session) to track when a bill might be heard in committee, or be headed to the house or senate floor.

- Timeliness is key. If you have something to say about a particular piece of legislation, contact your local state legislators and the chairperson of the committee involved right before they’re scheduled to take action on it.  (Contact information is available via http://legisweb.state.wy.us.)

- You can also call the Voter Hotline, on the days the legislature is in session, toll-free at (866) 996-8683 from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. to recommend a vote for or against a bill. Or, to leave a more detailed message, call the receptionist for the Senate at (307) 777-7711 or House at (307) 777-7852; send a fax to the attention of whatever legislator you designate at (307) 777-5466; or use email.

- Questions? Call the Legislative Service Office in Cheyenne at (307) 777-7881 for more information on how you can take part in Wyoming’s legislative process.

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7) Coming Events

Tuesday, Jan. 4; Tuesday, Jan. 18; Wednesday, Jan. 19
Nature Mapping Trainings
5:30 to 8 p.m., Teton County Library, 125 Virginian Lane
Nature Mapping is a program that teaches people how to be wildlife observers who help our community come up with an accurate picture of what kinds of wildlife we have and where they live during different times of the year. The information gathered from trained observers can be used for conservation efforts in the valley.
Like to find out more? The Jackson Hole Wildlife Foundation and the Meg and Bert Raynes Wildlife Fund are kicking off 2011 with three Nature Mapping trainings in January (see above). To register or for more details, contact Sue Colligan at info@jhwildlife.org or (307) 739-0968, or call Chuck Schneebeck at (307) 733-1582. Remember -- as little as 15 minutes a week of just recording what wildlife you see in your own backyard, during your commute, or while you’re out exploring can make a difference. More information about Nature Mapping is available at www.naturemappingjh.org.

Tuesday, Jan. 4
Screening of "Division Street"
7:30 p.m., National Museum of Wildlife Art, north of Jackson
Safe Wildlife Crossings for Jackson Hole -- a community-wide partnership -- encourages everyone to come out to the National Museum of Wildlife Art on Jan. 4 at 7:30 pm to view the film “Division Street.”
Roads are the largest human artifact on the planet; they have fragmented wild landscapes, ushered in the age of urban sprawl and challenged our bedrock sense of community. "Division Street" chronicles the ‘green adventure of a lifetime’ -- a quest to visit the most remote place from any road in the lower 48 states. The film also explores the concept of wildlife corridors, the potential for ‘greening’ our highway system, and the fusion of high-tech engineering with the best and brightest environmental research happening today. The 53-minute movie was shot in stunning locations throughout North America, including Banff National Park, Glacier National Park, Yellowstone National Park and the Everglades. This screening is generously sponsored by the Dragicevich Foundation and Dr. Christine Laughery/Home Health for Pets; film and synopsis provided by the Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival. Call (307) 732-5438 for additional details. (Safe Wildlife Crossings for Jackson Hole is a group that encourages innovative solutions for wildlife crossings that provide safe highways, prevent habitat fragmentation and promote connectivity for Jackson Hole's world-class wildlife. For more information about SWCJH, contact Louise Lasley at (307) 733-9417 or Louise@jhalliance.org.)

Wednesday, Jan. 5
From the Gulf to the Arctic: Energy Challenges and Opportunities
6 p.m., Teton County Library, 125 Virginian Lane
Join Taldi Walter of the National Audubon Society as she presents an update on the group’s continuing efforts in the Gulf region in response to the BP oil spill. Walter will highlight connections between the at-risk habitats along the Gulf Coast and those of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge’s coastal plain. The refuge and other vital Arctic habitats are under threat of development as the nation turns to Alaska to meet domestic energy needs. This talk is hosted by The Murie Center.

Wednesday, Jan. 12
Citizen Lobbyist Training
Starts at 8 a.m. at the Plains Hotel in Cheyenne
The Wyoming Legislature will convene in Cheyenne on Jan. 11 to consider a wide range of bills (see Item #6 above). For people who’d like to get involved in the legislative process, the nonprofit Equality State Policy Center is offering a hands-on lobbying workshop on Jan. 12, starting at 8 a.m. at the Plains Hotel in Cheyenne. This annual training is for those who want to understand the workings of the state’s legislature, and who want to learn ways that citizens can influence lawmakers. For details, click here.

Wednesday, Jan. 19
Alliance info lunch on the Comprehensive Plan
Noon to 1 p.m., Alliance office, 685 S. Cache St.
In January 2007, our town and county elected officials began interviewing consultants to help with what the electeds called an “update” of the Jackson/Teton County Comprehensive Plan from 1994. In the four years since then, the process has morphed from an update to a revision to a rewrite of the 1994 plan, and now the electeds are finally about to begin reviewing the new draft plan.

Public input and re-affirmation of community values have never been more important. As we enter this final stretch, decisions that affect each and every one of us will be made. We want to be sure that these decisions represent the will of our community for a plan that protects Jackson Hole's wildlife, community character, natural resources and scenic vistas.

Please join us at noon on Jan. 19 for a presentation on the Comp Plan by Tyler Sinclair, planning director for the Town of Jackson. This will be a great opportunity to ask Tyler and other town and county planners your questions about the plan and the review process, and to find out more details as we get ready to jump into this next phase of the Comp Plan review. Bring your lunch; we'll provide drinks and snacks.

Please contact Becky Tillson at Rebecca@jhalliance.org or (307) 733-9417 for additional information.

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8) Valley Voices

“A goal without a plan is just a wish.”

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Alliance Action is a publication of the Jackson Hole Conservation Alliance. The Conservation Alliance is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to responsible land stewardship in Jackson Hole to ensure that human activities are in harmony with the area’s irreplaceable wildlife, scenic, and other natural resources. We’re located at 685 South Cache Street in Jackson, Wyoming. Our mailing address is P.O. Box 2728, Jackson, WY 83001-2728 and our phone number is (307) 733-9417.

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