An analysis of public testimonies on the reintroduction of wolves to the greater Yellowstone ecosystem

Abstract

Public participation in review of draft environmental impact statements (DEIS) has been problematic. This study focused on public hearings regarding the DEIS for the reintroduction of wolves into Yellowstone National Park and central Idaho. The primary goal was a greater understanding of the content of public testimonies, integrating qualitative and quantitative approaches. Specific objectives were (1) to identify themes in testimonies (n = 162), and (2) to examine how themes varied among urban and rural hearing sites (two of each). Public discourse about alternatives in the DEIS was imbedded in the context of broad issues of societal concern regarding relationships between humans and nature as well as relationships between groups of citizens with diverse views. Three "Thematic Clusters" emerged from the qualitative analysis of testimonies: (1) risks/benefits of wolf reintroduction, (2) local/national sovereignty, and (3) trust/rnistrust. Underlying the Thematic Clusters appeared two clusters of "Broad Themes": (1) Anthropocentric /biocentric world views and (2) values related to justice and fairness. The hypothesis that themes related to a Biocentric World View would be more frequent at urban hearing sites was tested at 3 levels of analysis, (1) Broad Themes, (2) Thematic Clusters, and (3) Thematic Oppositions. The testimonies at urban and rural sites differed significantly (based on contingency analysis) in the frequency of Broad Themes (e.g. "Preferred DEIS Alternative", p < .00 1; "World Views", p < .00 I-, "Justice/Injustice", p < .0 1). Although the most frequent Thematic Cluster, "Risks and Benefits of Wolf Reintroduction", was equally likely to occur at all sites, there were significant differences among sites in frequency of the other Thematic Clusters ("Local/National Sovereignty", "Trust/N4istrust"). Several Thematic Oppositions varied significantly across sites ( e.g. "Negative Effects on Humans", p <.0001). This systematic thematic analysis of public testimonies illustrated that issues addressed in the DEIS prepared by the Fish and Wildlife Service were a "filtered response" to only part of the broader issues voiced by public participants. Variation in themes expressed at urban and rural hearing sites suggests that choice of hearing sites could affect the diversity and frequency of themes communicated by public participants, a factor to be considered in analyzing what builds trust in communication between federal employees and citizens participating in public hearings.