Setting the record straight

In an article titled, "What a Year 2005 was in Bonner County," (Daily Bee, Jan. 1), the reporter stated that the "controversial Sand Creek Byway was temporarily halted by a lawsuit filed by the North Idaho Community Action Network."

This is incorrect. The lawsuit filed by NICAN has not delayed the highway project and is in fact on hold, pending completion of Idaho Transportation Department consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service regarding ITD's new proposal to dredge Sand Creek's main channel.

Furthermore, the reporter neglected to mention the even bigger "news" that ITD has withdrawn its applications for permits to fill and dredge Sand Creek from the Army Corps and Idaho Department of Lands.

The significance of this action is twofold: 1) it means the permitting process, which will take months and maybe years, is delayed and must start over; and 2) it sends a strong signal that ITD is unable to justify the significant impacts of the proposed filling and dredging in Sand Creek.

LIZ SEDLER

Sandpoint

NICAN