Date: April 28, 2006
Contact: Melissa Wilson, 406 888-7895
Contact: Mary Riddle, 406 888-7898

WEST GLACIER, MONT. – Glacier National Park officials announce that a finding of no significant impact (FONSI) to issue a special use permit to continue operating a TV translator at Apgar Lookout has been signed by National Park Service Intermountain Regional Director Mike Snyder. The decision was made after reviewing the environmental impacts and considering public comments on the environmental assessment released in January. The special use permit renewal was requested by the Desert Mountain Television Association.

The association uses the translator to broadcast NBC affiliate KCFW from Kalispell to residents of Coram, Hungry Horse, West Glacier, Apgar, and Lake McDonald. This is the only TV channel that provides local news and weather to these residents. This channel also broadcasts messages through the Emergency Alert System. In the recent past, residents have relied on this station to provide news and emergency information regarding fires, evacuations, and avalanche closures of U.S. Highway 2. Desert Mountain Television Association has been operating the translator under a temporary special use permit.

The translator was installed at this location in 1963 and consists of a small transmission box kept in the basement of the lookout, two receiving antennas mounted on the lookout, and three antennas mounted on two posts set several feet from the lookout. The translator requires periodic maintenance.

The FONSI is available through the park’s planning Web site: http://parkplanning.nps.gov/parkHome.cfm?parkId=61 .