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More monitors coming to Glacier Peak

New seismic stations are coming to Glacier Peak, an under-monitored volcano in the Cascades.

The U.S. Forest Service approved four new monitors for the volcano, which right now has only one monitor.

“We as a community are going to have early warning if Glacier Peak decides to wake up,” said Dan Rankin, mayor of Darrington.

Scientists warn an eruption could send mud flowing into communities with tens of thousands of people, and the ash could bring down airplanes.

But a single seismometer makes it difficult to detect when Glacier Peak rumbles to life.

“It’s a pretty woefully under-monitored volcano,” said Jon Major of the U.S. Geological Survey.

Now, after years of work, USGS has a permit from the Forest Service to upgrade the current monitoring station and install four more.

USGS plans to do the work next summer.

Helicopters will fly in supplies and workers will hike in to build stations that will each take up about 100 square feet.

“We’re putting in the minimal amount, the smallest possible footprint we need,” Major said.

The stations will be installed in a federally-designated wilderness, and there were formal objections.

“We’re concerned the Forest Service seems to be approving violations of the Wilderness Act,” said Kevin Proescholdt of Wilderness Watch, who contends that federal law doesn’t allow helicopters or permanent structures.

“We shouldn’t be degrading wildernesses just because other agencies want to do research or science or monitoring,” Proescholdt said.

Another group, the North Cascades Conservation Council, objected to helicopters and recommended lightweight batteries that can be carried in.

But the council is not opposed to the monitors, which it says will be low-impact.