Letters to the editor Sept. 6

So-called experts

Citizens for a Better Flathead frequently point to so-called experts it hires to criticize the Lakeside County Water and Sewer District’s wastewater project.

Citizens’ experts did not conduct their own independent field investigation and did not perform site-specific fieldwork. Their opinions challenged the data, modeling and reports developed by district’s experts that based their reports on site-specific data that was independently reviewed by DEQ. There is nothing wrong with questioning a project and hiring experts to review someone else’s work. But criticizing a project without site-specific data is just an opinion and doesn’t prove anything.

In the recently decided Phase 1 lawsuit, Citizens relied on their so-called expert reports challenging the methodology and modeling. Judge Danni Coffman, ruling in favor of DEQ, stated that Citizens’ reports did not provide competing models or calculations challenging the actual project data. The court described the dispute as the type of “battle of experts” in which courts must give appropriate deference to an agency’s scientific and technical expertise.

The district has spent years doing the less-publicized work: hiring qualified engineers and hydrogeologic professionals; collecting site-specific data; conducting technical analysis; submitting that work for independent regulatory review by DEQ; responding to public comments and complying with Montana’s environmental and permitting requirements.

Citizens has announced another lawsuit over Phase II. Everyone has the right to challenge a decision in court. But filing lawsuit after lawsuit does not establish that anyone violated the law.

The district’s actions prove that they will continue doing what they have done throughout this project: follow the law, meet regulatory requirements and hire qualified experts that prepare reports based on detailed site-specific data.

— Jeff H. Larsen, Lakeside

Not Bankhead’s time

Ms. Alani Bankhead, is relatively new to the state of Montana. Her career information in the U.S. military is detailed and exemplary. She classifies herself as an independent Democrat. What does that mean? There was something missing. Her acquaintance with and connection to Montana have been vague.

Soon, she was critical of the independent Senate candidate, former president of the University of Montana, putting attention on the Senate election in a “gotcha” way by announcing her candidacy on the campus of UM with her dog. During an interview, she made a striking statement accusing the independent candidate’s “unfavorable” attitude toward women. Where did that come from? Doesn’t that sound like a typical slanderous statement by an opposing candidate? Has Ms. Bankhead positioned herself for a fight, not a campaign?

Ms. Bankhead’s willingness to file and cover her bases, is a legitimate Democratic candidate. Again, something was missing. This candidate needed time to work on some fundamental tasks to be ready for a statewide campaign for a major position. Her bio and accomplishments were appealing. Ms. Bankhead’s determination to remain in the race, despite no Montana endorsements and no organized campaign, is void of sensible explanations.

Mysteriously, the conservative PAC, “More Jobs, Less Government” surfaced to support her with large mailers. Her name made it on the Montana primary ballot as a Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate. Why was Ms. Bankhead being supported by these PAC mailers sponsored by this conservative PAC, with distorted messages? Looking back to Sen. Tim Sheehy’s campaign and those large mailers, this PAC was a major supporter in his win.

Ms. Bankhead is not prepared to be a Democratic Senate candidate for Montana. Independent Senate candidate Seth Bodnar is ready to serve Montana.

— JoLynn Yenne,  Kalispell

Climate blame

Environmentalists are happy. They don’t want to remove old downfall or harvest trees. They must like to see the forest burn.

To the people who blame everything on climate change, maybe all the fires burn up all the moisture in the air. The fires burn animals, which is a terrible death.

To the people who want to get rid of oil, there are at least 6,000 different things made with plastics, which is made from oil: all plastics, lipsticks, shampoo, cellphones, tires, parts for cars and trucks.

Hydro, coal and oil are the cheapest fuel for electricity. Solar and wind are the most expensive. If you don’t have wind or the sun isn’t shining, we will freeze.

The climate has been changing since the beginning of time.

— Frances Hagen, Bigfork