Kelley letter: Craters of the Moon
The proposal for a Craters of the Moon National Park is portrayed as a benign name change with the sole consequence of attracting new tourist dollars. Absent from discussion are the unintended consequences of how a park would affect grazing, agriculture and industry across southern Idaho.
National parks play vital roles in shaping federal land management decisions beyond their borders. A Craters of the Moon National Park would prove indispensable in strengthening environmental regulation throughout the Snake River Plain.
A national park would transform how people think about the Snake River Plain and it would create a new context for federal policy. People and decision makers would learn to see the region for what it is: a fragile ecosystem.
If a Craters of the Moon National Park is created, it will be interesting to watch these effects radiate across southern Idaho.
John Kelley, Sun Valley
This story was originally published February 21, 2016 at 11:10 PM with the headline "Kelley letter: Craters of the Moon."