The U.S. Department of the Interior, U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Park Service have been attempting to push a Grizzly Bear Restoration Plan for the North Cascades Ecosystem Environmental Impact Statement Draft onto the People of Washington State. There were four alternatives to the Plan, with the most popular comment at the most recent two public comment sessions in Chelan and Okanogan Counties being the do nothing option, Option A.
Reportedly the recent meeting in Okanogan county had about 600 attendees, mostly residents in attendance and the overwhelming message was no Grizzlies! Some CAPR members traveled to the Okanogan meeting from Skagit County because that was the nearest meeting to them. The message from them and from the County itself has consistently matched that of the Okanogan residents. No to more grizzly bears in Washington State.
Plans or no plans, Washington State law prohibits the grizzly bear from being imported into the state, so the do nothing alternate is the one which is the most in keeping with state law. https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=77.12.035&fbclid=IwAR1K97XnNviY7npFAifcCpr94Ei4KOO-xACLr0hPh9fPHLhHTSd-HtXBZ8g
Local residents were grateful that U.S. Rep. Dan Newhouse, R-Wash., who said the agencies ignored local voices during a 2017 comment period insisted meetings be held so local citizens could be heard. They were, now will the agencies comply with the comments made by local citizens?
We implore local representatives of the people closest to the unwanted grizzly plan to keep the pressure on in their behalf and insist on Option A if not a total abandonment of the plan
October 11, 2019