Citizens for Balanced Use » CBU News

Private land access encouraged by USDA ??

StacyBragg — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 04:56:42 +0000

New Effort To Make Private Land Access Easier

CBU opinion. Their has been a systematic closure of public lands access in the past approximate 30 years. CBU believes in public lands access, but also in private property rights. CBU is concerned as to the direction of this new government sponsored effort for private land access while more public lands are being closed everyday. CBU will be reviewing this in more detail.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced a new effort to encourage owners and operators of privately held farm, ranch and forest land to voluntarily provide public access to land for the enjoyment of wildlife-dependent recreation, including hunting or fishing, under programs implemented by state or tribal governments.

“This administration is committed to preserving and enhancing the great conservation legacy of our nation’s hunters and anglers to benefit current and future generations,” said Vilsack. “This program will not only help achieve conservation goals, but also increase opportunities for hunting, fishing and other outdoor recreation by providing greater access to privately held lands for wildlife-dependent recreation.”

To read full story click here

USDA Economic Report on Public Lands

StacyBragg — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 04:29:38 +0000

USDA Forest Service Report Illustrates Benefits

CBU will be reviewing the accuracy of this report in regards to multiple use on public lands

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced the release of a report showing the economic importance of America’s National Forests and Grasslands to rural communities across the country. The updated National Visitor Use Monitoring Report reveals that recreation activities on national forests and grasslands have helped to sustain an estimated 223,000 jobs in rural areas and contributed approximately $14.5 billion annually to the U.S. economy.

“Outdoor recreation is a crucial part of USDA’s effort to help generate wealth and economic opportunities in rural America,” said Vilsack. “This report demonstrates clearly how recreation activities not only help Americans enjoy a healthier lifestyle and instill an appreciation for the great outdoors, but also sustain thousands of jobs and generate billions of dollars in economic activity in rural communities across the country.”

To read full story click here

Private Landowners Status In Jeopardy

StacyBragg — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 05:07:18 +0000

CBU news of the threats facing the citizens of Montana today

To read full story click here Montana land owners under threat of takeover

Commission to discuss Bear Canyon access

StacyBragg — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 17:27:55 +0000

Gallatin County Commission to meet Wednesday, discuss Bear Canyon Road agreement

The regular Tuesday meeting of the Gallatin County Commission has been rescheduled to Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. due to the June 8 primary election.

The commission is scheduled to discuss an interim agreement regarding Bear Canyon Road, the source of an ongoing dispute between the county and U.S. Forest Service.

CBU response

The rancher that has the grazing permits in Bear Canyon came to CBU some years ago when his access

to take his cattle into his grazing allotments was all but cut off when the Forest Service destroyed the county owned road into Bear Canyon. He would of been unable to access to take in salt, fencing materials, and take care of the cattle during the summer. CBU members helped in securing a temporary access and brought the issue to the attention of the wrong doings to the county. CBU is continuing work for suitable and safe access for the public. The county will be discussing this issue at their Wednesday, June 9 meeting of the Gallatin County Commission.

To read full story click here

America’s Great Outdoors Initiative listening session in Bozeman

StacyBragg — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 13:21:33 +0000

Hundreds turn out to share ideas on public lands and open space

The Obama administration came to Bozeman looking for ideas on how to improve the outdoors in the United States.

It got hundreds.

More wilderness. No more wilderness. More funding. Fewer weeds. Increase logging on federal lands. Reduce the number of semi-trucks on U.S. Highway 287. Promote local foods. Educate the public. And put more climbing walls in public parks.

To read the full story click here

More AMERICA’S GREAT OUTDOORS INITIATIVE info

StacyBragg — Sat, 29 May 2010 06:33:30 +0000

E-mails and maps of the AGOI

e-mail TL000008

e-mail TL000010 with maps

e-mail TL000019 with maps

e-mail TL000021 with maps

e-mail TL000028 II

e-mail TL000028

e-mail TL000044

New meeting added to AMERICA’S GREAT OUTDOORS INITIATIVE

StacyBragg — Sat, 29 May 2010 06:13:58 +0000

Obama administration officials head to Ovando for talk of access, ‘working’ landscapes

Top Obama administration officials will be hosting a public meeting next week with U.S. Sens. Max Baucus and Jon Tester as part of the White House’s “Great Outdoors Initiative.”

The meeting will be held Tuesday at the Rolling Stone Ranch near Ovando. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Gov. Brian Schweitzer are among those expected to attend.

CBU will keep you updated of the outcome of this meeting being held

To read full story click here.

CBU news on AMERICA’S GREAT OUTDOORS INITIATIVE

StacyBragg — Sat, 29 May 2010 05:32:22 +0000

CBU news

The leak of internal memos has revealed an effort by the Obama administration to create another 6.5 million acres of National Monument land in Montana. According to the maps of these areas over 2/3 is privately owned. Under the name of Treasured Landscapes and in cooperation with organizations like World Wildlife Fund and The Nature Conservancy the government agencies of Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks, Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, and the Department of Interior are working to remove people from the land and take private property.

Bitter Creek landscape total acres 2,491,836
Montana Glaciated Plains total acres 4,138,593

In one of the released emails dated September 9, 2009 from Gina DeFerrari (WWF) to Ned Farquhar the following statement was made by Gina:

“You had asked where Governor Schweitzer’s ranch is-it’s in Judith Basin County, which is on the western boundary of the Nothern Plains ecoregion, as we define it, but outside these two landscapes.”

It is clear the Governor was aware of this project back in September of 2009 and was concerned his private property would be included in the proposed Monument designation. I would hope he would extend the same concern for those property owners included in this designation and fight for their property rights.

Many U.S. House of Representative members including Denny Rehberg have demanded the Department of Interior release all communication regarding the Treasured Landscape agenda. Both Senator Tester and Senator Baucus have known about this for quite some time and it remains to be seen whether they will oppose this federal land grab in Montana.

In response to the leaked memos and critizim from the public because of the secrecy this agenda has been under, the Department of Interior, the Department of Agriculture and the White House Council on Enviromental Quality are sending staff to attend 3 public meetings in Montana. All 3 meetings will be held beginning at 9am on Wednesday, June 2, 2010 in Helena, Missoula and Bozeman.

CBU and partner organizations will have representatives at these meetings

To see more details on meetiongs click here

Enviro’s file another lawsuit against energy production

StacyBragg — Sat, 15 May 2010 13:46:02 +0000

2nd lawsuit filed against state’s Otter Creek coal lease

Two more environmental groups are suing the Montana Land Board for leasing the state’s Otter Creek tracts to a St. Louis-based coal giant.

The Montana Environmental Information Center and Sierra Club say the board never examined the potentially devastating consequences for the environment.

To read full story click here

Wolves kill calf near Roscoe

StacyBragg — Wed, 05 May 2010 13:47:50 +0000

Officials confirm wolves killed calf near Roscoe

A federal tracker has confirmed that wolves killed a calf on a Roscoe-area ranch last week.

Two other calves have been found dead on the same ranch within the past couple of weeks but were not confirmed wolf kills, according to Fish, Wildlife and Parks

To read full story click here