Senator Tester doesn’t have a clear understanding of categorical exclusions, but he sure knows an end-run when he sees it…
U.S. Sen. Jon Tester of Montana grilled the chief of the U.S. Forest Service this week about its initial decision — since reversed — to give an expansion plan at Holland Lake Lodge an exemption from a thorough environmental review.
Tester said Congress meant that type of exemption — called a “categorical exclusion” — to be used for projects that protect communities from wildfires.
At least he wouldn’t have supported it for “making some corporation rich off our public lands,” Tester said.