Quiet! Glacier Coalition
2nd Qtr 2017 Update
Summer greetings,
Nothing like QUIET and natural sounds to restore one=92s hope during these =
chaotic times, particularly the attacks and funding cuts to our public land=
s and national parks.
As mentioned in our last update, a strange twist of fate has occurred. Sum=
mer is underway and all is quiet over Glacier Park because both Glacier hel=
i-tour companies have announced their intentions to retire! So far one can=
hear the beauty of Glacier, as well as see it. The absence of helicopter =
noise is palpable.
The two operators responsible for 93% of the noise in 2016*-- are, so far, =
NOT operating. Both outfits are without a manager. However, neither compa=
ny will relinquish their Interim Operating Agreements (IOA) or commercial p=
ermits.
This is a very unusual situation, which has led us to undertake additional =
research of the IOA. The ambient sound studies planned for this summer in =
Glacier as part of the Backcountry Plan underway, may reveal a quieter base=
line than the 2003 Ambient Baseline Study done in Glacier as part of the Ai=
r Tour Management Plan.
So, how does one prove the adverse impact of over-flight noise pollution in=
the absence of it? How can we take advantage of this situation? Your ide=
as, thoughts and comments are welcome!
We have catalogued the documents acquired from our Freedom of Information A=
ct (FOIA) that we will then have professionally reviewed. We expect to tak=
e the summer to finalize our strategy including how to best help Glacier Na=
tional Park reclaim one of their most precious natural resources, it=92s na=
tural quiet.
We sent the attached letter to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) an=
d National Park Service (NPS) =93Overflights Managers in Natural Sounds=94 =
earlier this year, addressing their methods used to prioritize parks in nee=
d. This letter may have resulted in a different kind of Annual Report for =
the 2016 year. The report provides quarterly details by each operator. Th=
e Annual Report for 2016 was released last week.
We prepared the graphs below from the same Annual Report. These graphic re=
presentations reveal how overflights are concentrated during the peak visit=
or season and the most active time for wildlife. GNP administration believ=
ed the scenic overflights were disruptive and adversely impacting the Park =
in 1999, when there were no requirements to track or control or record any =
scenic trips over the Park. Overflights have increase by 376% between 2013=
and 2016. Image the impact to the visitor experience and wildlife now!
NOTE: The majority of scenic flights take place in July and August. 2015 h=
ad forest fires grounding overflights
For 3-4 weeks.
Please reply if you have any ideas or thoughts on how to navigate this unus=
ual situation.
We will keep all the irons in the fire hot and report back over the summer =
as details unfold.
Sincerely,
Mary T. McClelland, Coordinator
(815) 482-7404
WEBSITE: Friends for a Quiet! Glacier Coalition <http://quietglacier.wix.co=
m/coalitioninformation>
PETITION: Change.org Quiet! Glacier petition <https://www.change.org/p/u-s-=
secretary-of-interior-sally-jewell-quiet-glacier-national-park-restore-the-=
natural-soundscape?recruiter=3D79051286&utm_source=3Dshare_for_starters&utm=
_medium=3DcopyLink>
COMMENTS: Change.org=A0Quiet! Glacier <https://www.change.org/p/glacier-nat=
ional-park-needs-our-help-to-restore-the-natural-soundscape-please-sign-qui=
et-glacier-petition-to-u-s-secretary-of-the-interior-sally-jewell/c> commen=
ts
On behalf of Quiet! Glacier Coalition <http://quietglacier.wixsite.com/coal=
itioninformation>
ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA
ALLIANCE FOR THE WILD ROCKIES
AMERICAN PACKRAFTING ASSOCIATION
CENTER FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY
CONSERVATION CONGRESS
EARTHWISE PRODUCTIONS
FLATHEAD AUDUBON SOCIETY
FRIENDS OF THE WILD SWAN
GLACIER TWO MEDICINE ALLIANCE
GREAT OLD BROADS FOR WILDERNESS
GRINNELL FAMILY ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA
HEADWATERS MONTANA
LATINO OUTDOORS
LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF ESTES PARK
LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF MONTANA
MONTANA ECOSYSTEMS DEFENSE COUNCIL
MONTANA WILDERNESS ASSOCIATION
NATURE SOUNDS SOCIETY
NATIONAL PARK CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION
NORTH FORK PRESERVATION ASSOCIATION
ONE SQUARE INCH OF SILENCE FOUNDATION
RESTORE THE NORTH WOODS
SIERRA CLUB
S.P.E.C.I.E.S.
SWAN VIEW COALITION
WILD MOUNTAIN ECHOES
WILD SANCTUARY
WILDEARTH GUARDIANS
WILDERNESS WATCH
WILDWEST INSTITUTE
YELLOWSTONE SAFARI COMPANY
Visitors seeking peace and quiet, Hole-in-the-Wall Trail, Glacier National =
Park
"While a picture is worth a thousand words, a
sound is worth a thousand pictures." R. Murray Schafer via Bernie Krause.
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