"It does not require a majority to prevail, 
but rather an irate, tireless minority keen to set brush fires in people's minds."
 --Samuel Adams - Leader in our Fight for Independence

Public Lands Action Alert

 Galton Project     SAVE THE WEST    Local Wilderness Bills    N.R.E.P.A.   New Chapter      Closing Sites       2007 Montana Legislature          Donations Needed                  Pending NEPA Projects        Forest Plan Revision 

The Galton Project

The Kootenai NF will be doing site specific planning on all of the forest east of HWY 93 plus some lands around Dickey Lake and Ant Flat.  This area contains the Ten Lakes Wilderness Study Area and extensive Inventoried Roadless Areas.  Montana Wilderness Assoc. is pushing hard to turn most of it into wilderness.  Presently snowmobiling is permitted inside the WSA.  There is a very real threat of a reduction in motorized access in this area.  You can find out more <HERE>    03/08

SAVE THE WEST

A new organization, separate from MFMU, has been formed to oppose NREPA.  SAVE THE WEST has created a website to inform the American public about the plight of our western states.  SAVE THE WEST plans to advertise the website in the home districts of the congressmen on the House subcommittee that is hearing H.R. 1975, NREPA.  SAVE THE WEST needs your help.  You can go to their website at http://www.savethewest.net   07/07

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Trading Wilderness for Jobs and Recreation

Montana Wilderness Association and other environmental organizations have enticed local recreationists and lumber mills to join them in sponsoring wilderness legislation with a promise of jobs and recreation.  The problem is that every proposal we have seen has little or nothing more than promises for jobs and recreation.  These proposals will create new wilderness on the Beaverhead-Deerlodge, Kootenai, and Lolo national forests in Montana.  We believe more proposals are planned.

Go >HERE< to learn more   07/07

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NREPA

Northern Rockies Ecosystem Protection Act

THE HEARING WAS HELD OCTOBER 18, 2007
No further action has been taken as of 3/28/08

NREPA has been re-introduced in Congress.  This time it might have a chance to pass.   NREPA is the giant wilderness bill that has been introduced in every session of congress since 1992.  It would :

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Increase the wilderness acres in the lower 48 states by 50%.

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Turn every inventoried roadless area in Montana, Idaho and Wyoming into a wilderness area.

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Add thousands of miles to Wild and Scenic river system

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Add over 3 million acres of defacto wilderness in corridors and recovery areas

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Study every unroaded area over 1000 acres on all  national forests in Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Oregon, and Washington and recommend for inclusion in the roadless inventory.  It would prohibit all activities in these study areas that would affect future eligibility for wilderness.  

 Please tell your congressmen that we have enough wilderness and don't need this massive wilderness bill forced on the good people of these western states.  

NREPA is partial implementation of The Wildlands Project in Montana, Idaho and Wyoming.

Go >HERE< to learn more about NREPA and about what you can do to stop it.    SAVE THE WEST also has a website dedicated to defeating NREPA at www.savethewest.net    03/08

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North Lincoln County Chapter

Recognizing that the USFS does not listen to individual concerns, Montanans in the Eureka and Fortine area have organized a chapter of MFMU.  The North Lincoln County Chapter will focus on local forest concerns as well as support MFMU on the larger issues.   In addition to organization building, NLCC's first challenges will be the Graves Creek Road repairs, Ten Lakes planning analysis, and the Lincoln County Coalition plan to add more wilderness to the Kootenai NF.  Members of NLCC will have all the benefits of full membership in MFMU.  Go to the NLCC home on this website to learn more.     3/07

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2007 Montana Legislature

We now have a Bill Watch-List which helps you keep abreast of proposed legislation in Helena.  On these pages you will find bill numbers, short titles, bill summaries, committee hearing information, links to the legislature and other tools that you can use to make informed comments to the legislature.

We also have a section on the Watch-List for federal legislation

We have also compiled a spreadsheet of all voting records of the 2005 Montana Legislature for 11 bills that will or would have impacted multiple use and public access.  You can see how your representative voted > HERE <   Soon we will add a scorecard for 2007     03/08 

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The USFS Inventories Recreation Sites

The USFS has been inventorying all recreation sites in the nation under a directive called Recreation Site Facility Master Planning (RSFMP).  They have been ordered to close sites that do not pay for themselves.  Seven forests in Montana will hold hearings on their plans in January and February of 2004.  Many forests are also looking at raising fees at sites that remain open.  USFS has been doing this in the dark without congressional oversight, NEPA involvement or public input.  It is imperative that the public turn out in large numbers to give their opinion on raising recreation fees and closing sites.     Please go HERE to learn more about this threat to our recreation.    12/12/06

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Roadless Rule Yo-Yo

The Clinton Roadless Area Conservtion Rule (RACR) is up and the Bush repeal and replacement of that rule is down.  

In October, 2006, a federal judge in California threw out the Bush Roadless Rule and reinstated the Clinton Roadless Area Conservation Rule (RACR).  This decision was appealed. 

Shortly after the overthrow of the Bush rule, the Governor of Idaho petitioned the Secretary of Agriculture for changes to roadless management in Idaho.  He bypassed both Bush and Clinton roadless rules and made his request under the Administrative Procedures Act.  This may be a useful tool for states in the future.   12/2/06

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Primary Election Results

There was another ballot question on the Flathead County June Primary in 2006.  Although the ballot question has no statutory effect, it gives us a  good idea of how Flathead County feels about roadless area restrictions.

The ballot read:

There are 6.4 million acres of National Forest managed as Roadless in Montana.   Should that forest land:

Be managed by the Forest Service for multiple use purposes including motorized recreation and roaded timber production?  
OR
Be managed by the Forest Service for multiple use purposes including non-motorized recreation and roadless timber production?
 

63% of the voters supported multiple use by choosing the

The vote was 11060 for motorized and roaded and 6551 for non-motorized and roadless use.     6/06

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Forest Plan Revision

Both KIPZ and WMPZ  have released their Draft Forest Plan.  The comment periods are over and they are working on the Final EIS.  The FEIS for all of these forests.is on hold pending a legal decision on the Bush Planning Rule which has been enjoined by a federal judge.  This plan was processed under the Bush rule.  Depending on the legal outcome, it may have to be redone. 

When the FEIS is issued their will be a 30 day objection period after which changes may be made and the Record of Decision (ROD) issued.  Appeals are not allowed under the new planning regulations.  After the ROD, we have to live with the plan or take it to court.  03/08

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FLATHEAD FOREST PLAN REVISION

The Flathead Forest has finally begun to revise its forest plan.  FNF has combined with the Bitteroot and Lolo forests for this planning project.  They call it WMPZ for Western Montana Planning Zone.  WMPZ  has already issued the proposed action.  Go here to see our comments on the proposal.  Several local groups on the three forests have been organized to formulate local input for the plans.  Go here to learn more about public input.  The Draft EIS has been released .  

WE WILL HAVE TO LIVE WITH THE NEW PLAN FOR THE NEXT 15 TO 20 YEARS.  THE PLANS WILL DETERMINE WHAT WE CAN DO AND WHERE WE CAN DO IT ON NATIONAL FOREST LANDS IN NORTHWEST MONTANA.  THE PAID ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVISTS ARE WORKING HARD TO RALLY THEIR SUPPORTERS AND GET THEIR MESSAGE TO THE FOREST PLANNERS.  

Dept of Interior  issued new forest planning regulations which have been enjoined by a federal judge.  The WMPZ planning team used the new regulations and they are now awaiting the outcome of legal appeals to learn if they can issue the Final EIS or will have to redo it.  Follow the link below to learn about the new regulations. 

There is only one alternative in the draft and it will be handled as a categorical exclusion to NEPA.  

The Draft version of the plan is not good for multiple use.  The Flathead N.F. is recommending an entire new wilderness area that is very close to the proposed wilderness that Montana Wilderness Assoc. is pushing hard.  The MWA proposed wilderness that they call the Winton Wedemeyer, will lock up 66,000 acres on the Flathead NF.  It butts up against the Canadian border between Eureka and Glacier Park.    With this action FNF will lock up these lands indefinitely with the same regulations as congressionally approved wilderness like the Bob Marshall.  Recent snowmobile closures in the upper North Fork on the Flathead will acquire more permanency with this recommendation.

There is moreThe suitable timber base will be cut in half on FNF, motorized use will be further restricted and a number of creeks will be recommended as "Wild, Scenic or Recreational Rivers".  Of course there is a package of restrictions that go with these recommendations as well and the recommendations take effect without congressional approval.  

It appears that all of the forests in Region 1 are marching in lockstep to environmentalist tunes and turning a deaf ear to our concerns.

The Final EIS is on hold

THE EVENTUAL REMEDY MUST COME FROM CONGRESS OR THE COURTS.   03/08

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Kootenai Forest Planning

KOOTENAI  and IDAHO PANHANDLE NATIONAL. FOREST PLAN REVISIONS BEGIN

The Kootenai is workng with the Idaho Panhandle on a joint plan revision for both forests. They call it KIPZ.  

The KNF  has released the Draft EIS.  The comment period is over. 

Wilderness On Again?

The new KNF supervisor left some hints in an interview with Michael Jamision of the Missoulian that he may reverse Bob Castenada's decision to not recommend areas for wilderness but place them in a special KNF protected de-facto wilderness management category.   THIS WOULD OVERTURN THE SMALL VICTORY WE WON WHEN CASTENADA MOVED THESE LANDS FROM RECOMMENDED WILDERNESS TO WILDLANDS.   

Supervisor Paul Bradford mentioned the thousands of form letters from environmental groups that  KNF received urging wilderness recommendation.  This is another example of how important it is to keep up the pressure on the agencies.  These will battles will go on and on until one side gives up or is completely defeated.

 These documents are now available from the Kootenai Forest Office in Libby, MT. Write to:
USDA Forest Service
ATTN: KIPZ Revision Team
1101 U.S. Hwy. 2 West
 Libby, MT 59923 

or email to r1_kipz_revision@fs.fed.us   You can view the documents on the Kootenai website at www.fs.fed.us/kipz  You can also find at link at that site to the notes and input statements of the Kootenai working groups. 

The topics to be covered in the revision process are:

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1) Vegetation

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2) Fire Risk

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3) Timber Production

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4) Wildlife

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5) Watersheds and Aquatic Species

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6) Inventoried Roadless Areas and Proposed Wilderness Areas

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7) Access and Recreation

Federal law requires that the Forest Plan be revised every 10 years. The AMS says that the plan needs to be revised because of changes in laws, regulations and policy,  social values and science

As expected the Draft Plan devotes a lot of time and space to "new perspectives" in forest management policy, including the buzzwords "ecosystem management" and "sustainability". The Forest Service no longer manages the forest it manages people. It has changed its forest ethic from conservation to preservation. Conservation is the management and utilization of a resource over time. Preservation concerns itself with restoring the land to a pre-human condition and keeping it there, untouched by human hands. The forest service no longer works for the citizens who pay them but for the environmentalists who sue them. The goal is no longer utilization of a resource but preservation of an imaginary environment that exists only in the minds of environmental activists and their friends.

We need to focus our comments to bring forest operations back to a conservation ethic of managing the forest for the present and future benefit of our citizens.

KIPZ has decided to use the new planning rules which bypass NEPA .  The Draft Map has already been released and can be seen on our website  HERE >>

The comment period on the Draft EIS is over and the Final EIS is on hold pending a legal decision on the planning process.

   To learn more about this plan go  HERE >>        03/08

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Donations Needed

MFMU has come to the realization after years of comment letters, public meetings, press releases, appeals to reason, and  radio and tv appearances, that, in order to effect the changes we desire to see on the public lands,  we must take our case to court.  Lawsuits are expensive.   We have only three ways to raise the necessary funds.  Memberships, fund raisers like raffles, and direct appeals.  

We have established a new membership option.  The Lifetime member will receive a handsome belt buckle and plaque commemorating his or her contribution to the MFMU legal fund.  Learn more about Lifetime memberships   

Fundraisers are held throughout the year and are announced in local media.  

In addition to memberships and fundraisers it is clear to us that we will need donations, large and small, from a concerned public in order to be successful in our legal pursuits.  We have started a new charitable organization called Montanans For Multiple Use Education Fund, MFMUEF or just the Fund.  Donations to the fund are tax deductible. 

If you can help, please go to our donations page for more information.  5/05

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Pending NEPA Projects   

 NEPA stands for National Environmental Protection Act.  Not to be confused with NREPA, Northern Rockies Ecosystem Protection Act or NFEPA, National Forest Ecosystem Protection Act 

These projects will need additional comments in the near future.  Be aware - keep posted by returning often to this page.

Kootenai and Idaho Panhandle Forest Plan Revision

KIPZ has decided to use the new planning rules.  The Draft Plan (DEIS) has been released and the comment period is closed.  The Final EIS is on hold pending a legal decision on the planning process.   After it is released there will be a 30 day objection period before the ROD is issued and the plan is implemented.  Go to www.fs.fed.us/kipz   for more information or click on the link above.  03/08

The Flathead, Bitterroot and Lolo Forest Plan Revision 

 WMPZ has released its draft plan and the comment period is over.       The Final EIS is on hold.   After that there will be a 30 day objection period before the ROD is issued and the plan is implemented.   03/08

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