RESIDENTS CRITICIZE FEDERAL POT RAIDS

Hearing: They say low-flying helicopters disturb their peace and kill animals.

Redway-Drug agents hunting for marijuana in low-flying helicopters
routinely kill birds, stampede farm animals, violate environmental
laws and terrify innocent homeowners, residents of California's rugged
north country testified Monday.

"You have to be hare to see what it is like - from the first of August
through September, it's like a war zone," said Dan Weaver.

Weaver and two dozen others testified at a public hearing ordered as
part of a settlement in a lawsuit challenging Operation Greensweep, an
August 1990 drug raid.

"The big problem is these helicopters," Weaver said. "This whole thing
would be calmed down significantly by getting those guys up higher."

Residents complained that their privacy and property were violated and
said the propeller wash from the helicopters killed birds and spooked
livestock.

Last June, the settlement called on the Bureau of Land Management to
draw up a handbook for its drug raiders. The guidelines are expected
to be released in June.

Ed Denson said helicopters frightened his workers.

"They say they fly at 500 feet, but actually, they're coming in at 200
feet. We're saying the handbook should require them to fly at least
1,000 to 1,500 feet," said Denson, who lives in Redway.

Redway is within the so-called Emerald Triangle made up of Humboldt,
Mendocino and Trinity counties. The region is known for its lush
wilderness and is a rich marijuana growing area.

The many local, state and federal agencies that typically participate
in the raids will not be directly affected by the BLM handbook.