Citizens for Balanced Use » Legislation

Schweitzer blasted for pending Canadian deal

StacyBragg — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 04:16:21 +0000

Tensions flare over Schweitzer’s Canadian deal

Gov. Brian Schweitzer is facing sharp questions from Montana’s congressional delegation over the way the governor has handled an agreement with Canada to protect the Glacier National Park area.

Schweitzer inked a deal with Canadian officials earlier this year promising that both sides would move to permanently protect the Flathead region from development. The governor promised the U.S. side would come up with millions to buy out two Canadian companies — a promise Schweitzer apparently made without first getting federal officials on board

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Rehberg supporting recreational aviation and back country airstrips

StacyBragg — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 05:48:25 +0000

Rehberg, Boyd, Ehlers, Simpson and Minnick Introduce Resolution Honoring Backcountry Airstrips

06/25/10

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressmen Denny Rehberg (MT-AL), Allen Boyd (FL-02), Vernon Ehlers (MI-03), Mike Simpson (ID-02) and Walt Minnick (ID-01) have jointly introduced a resolution in the House of Representatives supporting recreational aviation and backcountry airstrips on America’s public lands.

“With 147,000 square miles, there are plenty of places in Montana that you just can’t get to by road,” said Congressman Rehberg, a member of the House General Aviation Caucus. “That’s why aviation is as important to modern Montana as the horse was for frontier Montana. During a time when our lands are under threat from drought, insect infestation and wildfire, and when our economy continues to struggle, backcountry airstrips serve a valuable role for land managers and visitors alike.”

“As a pilot, I know that many of us combine flying with other recreational activities, such as hunting, fishing and camping,” said Congressman Boyd, co-chair of the House General Aviation Caucus. “This legislation recognizes the important role rural backcountry airstrips are to general aviation enthusiasts and tourists across the country, and I am proud to be a co-sponsor of this resolution.”

“The Recreational Aviation Foundation has done a great service by pointing out the potential loss of a number of backcountry airstrips,” said Congressman Ehlers. These airstrips allow citizens to land near wilderness areas, and be able to hike, camp, and explore these beautiful parts of our country. These strips provide great access, and should be preserved wherever possible so that generations ahead can continue to enjoy the wilderness areas of our nation.”

“Backcountry airstrips ensure that Idahoans and visitors to our state have access to beautiful and wild places for recreation, work, and management of land and wildlife, and I am pleased to have the opportunity to work with my colleagues to make sure that they continue to be able to use them,” said Congressman Mike Simpson, Ranking Member of the House Interior Appropriations Subcommittee, which funds the U.S. Forest Service.

“For Idahoans who treasure our backcountry, these airstrips not only allow folks a great way to see the out of doors, but they also represent a lifeline for remote sections of the state,” Congressman Minnick said. “They are important to our way of life and ought to be maintained.”

Backcountry airstrips are often targeted for closure by powerful special interest groups or simply neglected by bureaucrats in Washington, D.C. Yet, they are a part of life for many Americans. In addition to search and rescue, fire management, research, disaster relief and wildlife management, they also provide access to some of the most beautiful, remote federal lands in America—regardless of one’s physical ability to otherwise enjoy the backcountry. For pilots, in the event of mechanical problems or inclement weather, they serve as emergency landing sites when larger airports are out of reach. Finally, backcountry airstrips serve as efficient access points for tourists, who in turn contribute to local economies and small businesses.

“Too often, backcountry airstrips receive little if any attention, so they are vulnerable to efforts to close them. This resolution introduced by Reps. Rehberg, Boyd, Ehlers, Minnick and Simpson acknowledges the important role of these air strips and raises their profile, especially among their colleagues on Capitol Hill whose actions are critical to the airstrips’ survival,” said Craig Fuller, President of Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association.

“We are excited that these Representatives are recognizing the value of backcountry aviation in this way,” said John McKenna, President of the Recreational Aviation Foundation (RAF). “This Resolution clarifies the status of recreational aviation, its participants, supporters and those who work hard to maintain and preserve it for the future.” McKenna lives and works in Bozeman, Montana, the headquarters of the national non-profit organization.”

Rehberg Pushes for Transparency On National Monuments Actions

StacyBragg — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 05:34:07 +0000

Rehberg Joins Western Colleagues in Sponsoring Legislation to Modernize the Antiquities Act

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, has cosponsored the National Monument Designation Transparency and Accountability Act with members of the Congressional Western Caucus. In conjunction with legislation he’s already introduced that would require congressional approval of any National Monument designation in Montana, this legislation would enact additional reforms intended to modernize the original 1906 legislation to meet public expectations of transparency and accountability.

“Montanans expect and deserve a new level of government transparency that wasn’t possible when the Antiquities Act was first created more than a century ago,” said Rehberg, a member of the Congressional Western Caucus. “The Antiquities Act is a relic of a time when politicians worked far from the scrutiny of public attention – often days of travel by train from the voters they represented. The secrecy that this distance afforded simply doesn’t fly anymore. Voters deserve to know what their government is doing, and they deserve to have a say in it. Modern technology makes it possible, and it’s the responsibility of every elected official to ensure it happens.”

The National Monument Designation Transparency and Accountability Act includes several provisions that will modernize the Antiquities Act. By changing the size restriction of land the President can designate from “the smallest area compatible with the proper care and management of the object to be protected,” to “the smallest area essential to ensure the proper care and management of the objects to be protected,” it reduces the amount of land the President can designate as a national monument. This simple change has become necessary following the audacity of the recently leaked secret plans being crafted by the Department of the Interior to designate more than 13 million acres as new National Monuments.

In addition, the process by which a National Monument is designated is also updated in the bill, with new requirements for transparency and accountability added before and after any monument designation. For example, 30 days before making a decision, the President would be required to provide the language of the proposed proclamation to all government officials with authority over the land located within the proposed National Monument. This includes state, local and tribal officials. The Secretary of the Interior would then be required, by the law, to hold a public meeting, take public comments and make the draft and comments available online.

The legislation also creates a role for congressional oversight once the President designates the monument. Within one year of a new designation, the Administration would have to produce a report that examines the monument designation across several criteria: economic impact of the local communities, impact on domestic energy production, and the impact on other interests, rights and uses of the land – including water rights, hunting, grazing, timber production, forest health, off-road vehicle use, hiking, horseback riding, and mineral and energy leases, claims, and permits. Once the report is completed, the designation must be approved by an Act of Congress within two years. Without such an approval, the proclamation would be undone.

“The Clinton Administration invented the abuse of the Antiquities Act with the Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument and the Obama Administration seems intent on perfecting it,” said Rehberg. “The Secretary of the Interior has already promised an open and transparent system – this legislation ensures the Department keeps its promise. Transparency is the antidote to government abuse.”

Schweitzer wants to send money to Canada to create a park

StacyBragg — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 05:29:10 +0000

Schweitzer pushes to secure British Columbia park deal

Gov. Brian Schweitzer isn’t done jousting with federal officials over a deal with Canada to protect the area surrounding Glacier National Park.

Montana’s governor used the bully pulpit over the weekend as chairman of the Western governors to again criticize his federal partners in the deal — even as the Obama administration was talking with the Canada about moving the state-level pact along.

To read full story click here

Rehberg Comments on DOI National Monument Lack of Transparency

StacyBragg — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 05:36:37 +0000

Rehberg Responds to Secretary Salazar’s Claim that Interior Isn’t Hiding Anything

06/23/10

WASHINGTON ,D.C. – Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, today released the following statement regarding comments attributed to Secretary of Interior Ken Salazar, which were then distributed by Senator Jon Tester following a Senate hearing. In reference to a federal land-grab in Montana that was repeatedly mentioned in secret Department of Interior emails and documents, the Secretary is reported to have said: “I think it is folks fanning the flames. We hope that we move forward with a conservation agenda. But it involves listening to the people and it doesn’t involve the heavy hand of government coming in and imposing the monument authority.”

“In the closing hours of the Clinton Administration, federal bureaucrats locked up tens of thousands of acres in Montana as a National Monument. At the time, officials also claimed to have listened to Montanans prior to making that decision – a decision that ultimately was very controversial in Montana. So forgive me for continuing to be very skeptical of Washington bureaucrats who claim to know what’s best for Montana. If Secretary Salazar were sincere about his willingness to be open and transparent, he could settle the matter in an instant by releasing the document that his agency has decided to keep a secret. This includes the missing pages of the original memo and the more than 2,000 pages of emails and attachments referenced in the 300-pages that I have posted on my website. If I had the fortune of publicly questioning the Secretary about this matter you can bet that I would put Montana’s interest in managing our land ahead of the Department of Interior’s interest in covering its tracks.”

Tester draft proposal to Senate committee

StacyBragg — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 13:19:20 +0000

Testers first draft concerning logging and forest restoration

Recreation and wilderness to be supplied at a later date according to the bill draft.

To read the draft click here Tester 1470 forest_jobs_draft_06172010 timber-restoration

Senate comm. draft of Tester wilderness bill

StacyBragg — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 13:57:43 +0000

Senate committee discussion draft of revised S-1470

Senator testers office was unwilling to provide CBU with a copy of this draft to CBU or the public. CBU is keeping up to date on this and we will post Senator Testers counter proposal.

To read the draft S1470 Title I Discussion Draft 1

Status of Tester wilderness bill in question

StacyBragg — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 05:03:42 +0000

Tester calls forest bill changes ‘dead on arrival’

U.S. Sen. Jon Tester has dismissed a proposed rewrite of his forest bill as “dead on arrival,” and promised to publicly post his counteroffer that is expected next week.

Tester’s bill would create new wilderness in parts of Montana, while increasing logging requirements and establishing permanent recreation areas.

To read full story click here

Senate committee removes logging and other multiple uses from Tester wilderness bill

StacyBragg — Sun, 06 Jun 2010 18:31:36 +0000

Forest bill backers rap panel’s changes

A new Senate committee rewrite of Sen. Jon Tester’s forest bill is circulating among members of the group that helped draft the original measure, but some of the original bills supporters say the proposed changes are unacceptable.

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The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee has developed a “discussion draft” version of Tester’s “Forest Jobs and Recreation Act,” which removes one of the most controversial provisions of the bill. That provision call for the mandated logging of 100,000 acres of timber on the Beaverhead-Deerlodge and Kootenai National Forests.

To read full story click here

Wyo. governor addresses enviro judge shopping

StacyBragg — Sun, 06 Jun 2010 13:39:16 +0000

Wyo. governor blasts courts over wolf protection

Wyoming Gov. Dave Freudenthal is steamed over how federal courts have handled wildlife questions affecting his state. Freudenthal says that disputes over the federal Endangered Species Act should be litigated in Wyoming when they affect Wyoming wildlife.

Freudenthal told the Wyoming Stock Growers Association in Casper that environmental activists are filing lawsuits to step up animal protections in Montana and Idaho, not Wyoming, in hopes of getting a judge friendlier to their side.

To read full story click here