Pure Nature: Except for the Jet Noise

Re “These Birds Are Too Noisy,” editorial, Aug. 25: I live in the Owens Valley. I have news for you. The Boeing 757s would be just as noisy and disruptive to our environment here at the Bishop airport as they would be if they landed at Mammoth. If Mammoth is going to have a world-class ski resort, then they should also bear the responsibility for any possible negative impacts, such as the noise of commercial airliners. If developers in Mammoth want commercial flights servicing their resort, the planes should land and take off at Mammoth airport.

Isn’t most of the sky over the Owens Valley Department of Defense reserved airspace anyway?

Paul Fretheim

Independence, Calif.

*

Thank you for defying the “anti-progress” label, pointing out what we can lose by giving in to powerful and aggressive commercial interests. Unfortunately, Intrawest, the giant Canadian developer, has lesser-known and apparently more insidious plans for the airport. It is said to be buying a large tract of virgin forest land, next to the Mammoth ski area, from the Forest Service, using a so-called “land swap” deal. They are planning to replace the 20 small timber A-frame chalets hidden in the woods with an enormous stone and cement hotel/condominium complex, larger than the one built next to the village. The project is bound to change the shape of the entire mountain. The real reason for the enlarged airport is to change this rustic preserve for recreation into an international, posh destination. The current chalets, hidden in the forest, are built on land leased from the Forest Service under strict environmental guidelines. Each chalet owner is also obliged to rent the A-frames to the public when not in personal use, at a reasonable price. The chalets are mostly rented by vacationing families. It is time to look into the sweet deals Intrawest is getting from the Forest Service since it purchased the ski area from legendary developer David McCoy.

E. Peter Gabor

Beverly Hills

*

If Intrawest proceeds with its plans to expand Mammoth Lakes Airport into a major airport, we Southern Californians who support its operation with our tourism dollars, and love the beauty and peace of the Eastern Sierra, should organize a boycott. That would get attention.

David Morrow

Valencia