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Missoula, Mont. (AP) The state Department of Natural Resources and Conservation has denied a proposal to allow helicopter skiing in the Whitefish Mountain Range.

Valhalla Adventures and Triple-X Helicopter Inc., had proposed offering commercially guided helicopter skiing on portions of the Stillwater and coal Creek state forests.

The DNRC says the majority of the 316 people who commented on the proposal did not want heli-skiing on state lands.

Brian Manning, the unit manager of the department's Stillwater branch, said most of the people who wrote in said they were concerned about helicopter noise over private land and the disruption it would bring to area wildlife.

Information from: KPAX-TV, http://www.kpax.com (Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APNP 12-10-08 0934CST | save this article / add to your favorites list