On Tuesday, August 25, 2009, county land commissioner Mary Black informed the county board of the current comment period regarding the U.S. Forest Service’s South Fowl Environmental Impact Statement.
Community member Diane McDonnell told commissioners she hoped they would make a statement regarding the impact of sound from the proposed snowmobile trail re-route around the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW).
Four years ago, Commissioner Bruce Martinson replied, the county went on record in “strong support” of the proposed rerouting of the Tilbury Trail.
Commissioner Johnson supported the idea of submitting a letter during the comment period.
People are concerned, said Black, that this issue could result in creation of a sound barrier, or buffer zone, all the way around the BWCAW. In the meantime, snowmobilers must ride along the Arrowhead Trail to get to South Fowl Lake, which is not as safe as riding on a trail.
McDonnell indicated that U.S. Forest Service District Ranger Dennis Neitzke had shown her a study that found that most of the sound from snowmobiles would go up and not out.
“This is a Catch-22,” Commissioner Bob Fenwick said. He expressed concern that to engage in conversation over the impact of sound on the BWCAW would be to concur that a boundary zone exists. Fenwick, the county board liaison to the Forest Service, said he would speak with Neitzke about the issue.
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