June 3, 2003

Lynn Bidlack
Special Uses, Intermountain Region
USFS, 324 25th Street
Ogden, UT 84401
Fx = 801-625-5378

Dear Lynn,

Thank you for faxing requested information to Brian Michaels. You may continue to release any information relating to my impending Application for Special Use to whomever may be interested. I know that openness around this whole process is essential to the first - and future - acceptance of this process by participants.

Also, let me appreciate the work you and your staff put toward analysis of sites proposed at our May 8th meeting in your recent letter of May 21st.

Regarding the State Act, please be aware that from 1989 thru 1995 the Forest Service utilized Operating Plans to meet the health and safety concerns of the various states. The Forest Service eliminated the necessity of acquiring a separate State permit by including State and local inspectors in the ICT. There are ways under Federal jurisdiction that this has been done in the past and needs to be done this year. I have outlined during our recent phone conversations several of those ways which have worked out to everyone's satisfaction.

One of the things that was clearly assented to by everyone at our May 8th meeting was that the Operating Plan would be the vehicle for the numerous processes and details of set up, maintenance and cleanup. It is important that particulars of this be worked out with volunteers on site, and not as something between myself and the Forest Service. That way the individuals assembling can have input and work together with the Forest Service as they have for many years; and the Forest Service can have a signature and a permit.

I mapped all this out in my Letter of Notification, and I believed then, and still do, that the steps in that process were acceptable to everyone. That certainly appeared to be what Malcolm, Liz, David, Bert, Steve and others all clearly stated during our meeting.

As I mentioned when we first began talking, I believe there are people whose interest lies in seeing this Assembly continue to be relegated to the illegal category. I have come forward with the express intention of moving this event into a permitted arena.

If there are personnel in the Forest Service who want to make me responsible for agreeing to numerous particulars that persons other than myself are going to do, then, Lynn, those folks may be among the few who want this permit application - this "Peace Process" - to fail.

Only by the efforts of those who want to see a safe, healthy, legal and environmentally responsible Assembly, and who are willing to go forward taking each other's needs into account are we going to be able to accomplish those goals.

Lastly, please let me hear from you with information about participation in a conference call specifically addressing the State's health concerns, which you referred to during our May 29th conference call with the Region 5 team.

I will continue to be in touch as often as is useful, and I hope to have further information exchange about site selection soon. In the meantime I hope you and your staff will do whatever needs be done in regard to working with the State, and in regard to keeping the Application and Authorization paperwork clear and unencumbered. I know all this presents many challenges, but I have great faith that people are going to do the right thing.

Thanks again for all your hard work,