How many helicopters can dance on the head of a redwood cathedral?

Are there too many helicopters over Muir Woods? One would not permit loud tour devices into the Sistine Chapel, but when Cathedral Grove is outside, should there be any less consideration?

Air-tour operators report few complaints from Muir Woods and no recent changes in routes or number of flights. "We try to be a good neighbor," John McClelland, owner of San Francisco Helicopters, told the Marin Independent Journal in a recent article. Steve Price, owner of Seaplane Tours, said that his company has been using quieter planes in recent years. "We always do our best to work with everyone."

Muir Woods site supervisor Mia Monroe, however, tells of increasing reports by staff and visitors of "more frequent, noticeable, and intrusive" overflights. She says the park will "seek a friendly resolution" with air-tour operators. Others would go further. Muir Woods worker Tom Martell and naturalist Argento Flay seek "a moratorium on air tours over the area" and are considering legal action against the flights, which Martell told the Independent Journal are "ruining the experience for those who come to Muir Woods for solace."

The Air Tour Management Act of 2000 mandates Air Tour Management Plans (ATMPs) for national parks that experience air-tour overflights. These plans are to provide "measures to mitigate or prevent the significant adverse impacts, if any, of commercial air tour operations upon natural and cultural resources, visitor experiences, and tribal lands." Mitigation can include requiring operators to use "quiet technology", restricting routes, or prohibiting air tours. The Act required air-tour operators to disclose their average number of flights for 1997 - 2000 and prohibited them from exceeding that average unless an ATMP was in place. The National Park Service has questioned the numbers submitted by the Muir Woods operators, and asked the Federal Aviation Administration to verify the numbers.

Preparing an ATMP is a long, complicated process, including measurement of sounds, study of impacts (on spotted owls, for example), and public input. Muir Woods has already made many efforts in the last decade to minimize noise by changing its procedures for servicing dumpsters, banning leafblowers, changing the schedule of delivery trucks, and stopping use of the nearby firing range during owl breeding season. ATMP's, however, require the Park Service to negotiate with the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA), which has primary authority - but has shown little interest in issues other than safety.

Five years after passage of the Act, work has begun on only nine ATMPs, even though air tours operate at over 100 national parks. The process has raised major controversy at the Grand Canyon. Due to the recent controversy over Muir Woods, the Park Service has asked the FAA to increase the priority for developing an ATMP for Muir Woods, which may start as "early" as 2007.

What You Can Do

Muir Woods is looking for volunteers to work with staff on the park's soundscape inventory. Training will be provided. To volunteer, contact Mia Monroe at (415) 388-2596 or bt email at mia_monroe-at-nps.gov

Also write a letter to Rep. Lynn Woolsey at:
1050 Northgate Drive, #354
San Rafael, CA 94903.

Urge her to work to fund an Air Tour Management Plan (ATMP) to preserve the solitude of Muir Woods as soon as possible. Ask her to encourage the FAA to require the Muir Woods air-tour operators to document their average 1997 - 2000 flights and hold to this number until an ATMP is in place. See adjacent article for additional points to make.

Gordon Bennett, chair, Marin Group; with contributions by Ron Rothbart