Tag Archives: Max Baucus

Daines holds ‘listening session’ on Rocky Mountain Front legislation

Environmental Issues, News, , ,

U.S. Rep. Steve Daines is trying to get a feel for the level of community support for the Rocky Mountain Front Heritage Act . . .

A listening session hosted by Rep. Steve Daines to gather public input on a bill that would preserve current conditions on some 275,000 acres of public land on the Rocky Mountain Front drew 200 people to Choteau on Wednesday afternoon.

Supporters of the Rocky Mountain Front Heritage Act made a stronger showing at the meeting, but Daines found out the bill has both passionate supporters and detractors. Residents from Choteau, Augusta and other Front communities were joined at the meeting by Montanans from as far away as Missoula, Polson and Bozeman.

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Daines backs North Fork watershed protection

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First-term U.S. Rep. Steve Daines announced strong support for the North Fork watershed protection effort . . .

Citing the importance of responsible land-use policies and protecting Montana’s pristine outdoors, U.S. Rep. Steve Daines announced his plans to introduce legislation that would prevent industrial development in the North Fork Flathead River watershed on the western edge of Glacier National Park.

Daines, a Republican serving in his first term, stated his intentions to spearhead a bill in the House of Representatives similar to the North Fork Watershed Protection Act, which Sens. Jon Tester and Max Baucus reintroduced in February.

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Rocky Mountain Front Heritage Act reintroduced in Congress

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It’s time to take another run at it. The Baucus/Tester-sponsored Rocky Mountain Front Heritage Act has been reintroduced in this session of Congress . . .

After a near-miss last year, the Rocky Mountain Front Heritage Act has been reintroduced in the 113th Congress, on the 100th anniversary of the Sun River Game Preserve.

The bill, co-sponsored by Montana Sens. Max Baucus and Jon Tester, would protect wilderness, ranching and recreation opportunities in the mountain range between Augusta and Dupuyer, west of Great Falls. It would designate 208,000 acres as a conservation management area that allows motorized access, biking and other current uses, add another 67,000 acres to the Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex, and support noxious weed prevention programs for agricultural and public lands across the Front. The bill would not affect mineral leasing in Teton and Pondera counties, or energy production on private and state land.

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Montana senators reintroduce North Fork legislation

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Senators Baucus and Tester are taking another swing at getting the North Fork Watershed Protection Act passed . . .

Montana Sens. Max Baucus and Jon Tester reintroduced legislation Thursday aimed at protecting Montana’s North Fork Flathead River drainage from mining and oil and gas development.

The North Fork Watershed Protection Act does not impede timber production, hunting or fishing and continues to have broad support of Montana businesses and conservation groups, according to the two Democratic senators.

Baucus and Tester have successfully negotiated the return of more than 200,000 lease acres held by energy companies in the North Fork, about 80 percent of the total leased acreage.

The legislation is aimed at securing the remaining acreage.

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First anniversary of Rocky Mountain Front Heritage Act

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Our friends on the other side of the Divide, the Coalition to Protect the Rocky Mountain Front, point out that we’ve just passed the first anniversary of the introduction of the Rocky Mountain Front Heritage Act. The Front is a vital link in the larger Crown of the Continent ecosystem, of which the North Fork is a part.

They suggest this would be a good time to send Senator Max Baucus a note thanking him for his efforts so far. For more information or ideas on points you may want to bring up in your email go to http://www.savethefront.org/thank_max.html.

Send emails to Senator Baucus at http://baucus.senate.gov/?p=contact.

Less than two weeks to send comments in support of the Rocky Mountain Front Heritage Act

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The Montana Wilderness Association (MWA) has been heavily involved in supporting the Rocky Mountain Front Heritage Act since its inception. Here’s a lightly edited excerpt from one of their recent announcement encouraging everyone to support this legislation . . .

Last Thursday, a bill to permanently protect the incomparable Rocky Mountain Front got its day in Congress with a hearing before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.

This is a crucial step in the journey of a Heritage Act, a bill that will forever protect our wilderness heritage along the Front, including hundreds of miles of quiet trails and some of the finest backcountry hunting and fishing  in North America.

To help get this passed, Senator Max Baucus is asking for our support. The more demand we create for the Heritage Act the better chance we have of getting it signed into law this year.

To submit a comment in support of the Rocky Mountain Front Heritage Act, visit savethefront.org’s Quick Guide to Submitting Written Comments to the Congressional Record.

If needed, here are a few important points to remind lawmakers back in Washington, D.C.

Made-in-Montana

Montanan’s were able to work across party lines when crafting this legislation and now it’s the Senate’s chance to do the same and help pass it into law. Working together, ranchers, outfitters, business owners and conservationists listened to each other and to people from across the state.  The Heritage Act is product of five years of public meetings, countless kitchen table discussions and group meetings with permitees, landowners and local officials.

Big Game needs Big Country

Montana sportsmen and women get it.  Big, unbroken habitat means healthy big game herds and longer hunting seasons.  And keeping the Front just the way it is means the next generation of Montana hunters will have the same access and opportunity we have today.

Best Defense is a Good Offense

We can’t wait until elk have no food source, fish have no clear water and our native plants have nowhere to grow.  That’s why the Heritage Act will place a high priority on the eradication of noxious weeds on the Front and require land managers to prioritize their efforts.

For more information about the Rocky Mountain Front Heritage Act please visit savethefront.org or go to http://www.baucus.senate.gov.

Additional background can also be found at the MWA’s Rocky Mountain Front Wilderness Campaign page.

Rocky Mountain Front wilderness bill gets a hearing

Environmental Issues, News,

Here’s the Missoulian’s take on yesterday’s Senate hearing on the Rocky Mountain Front wilderness bill . . .

Supporters of the Rocky Mountain Front Heritage Act had their day in Congress on Thursday when U.S. Sen. Max Baucus led off testimony on the bill.

“I think this is a no-brainer,” Baucus told Senate Public Lands and Forests Subcommittee chairman Sen. Ron Wyden. “There’s no conflict. People worked very hard to make this happen. I hope we can get this passed this year.”

Choteau rancher Dusty Crary called the bill “our homeland security bill.” The act would add 67,000 acres to the Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex and designate another 208,000 acres of U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management land as conservation management areas . . .

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Baucus introduces Rocky Mountain Front wilderness bill

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Sen. Max Baucus’ Rocky Mountain Front wilderness bill got a formal Senate hearing today . . .

U.S. Sen. Max Baucus on Thursday presented to a Senate panel his plan for new wilderness and conservation area along the Rocky Mountain Front, with high hopes and the backing of the Obama administration.

Baucus told the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands and Forests that the Rocky Mountain Front Heritage Act comes from residents who spent years working on it. The bill aims to keep development and road access at current levels.

Baucus predicted it will succeed where other wilderness efforts have failed because it is a homegrown effort.

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Commentary: Wilderness bill a good start

Commentary, Environmental Issues,

A fairly decent overview by the Daily Inter Lake of the features and challenges of Sen. Baucus’ proposed Rocky Mountain Front Heritage Act . . .

Sen. Max Baucus took a big step with his recent announcement to proceed with wilderness legislation for the Rocky Mountain Front, but the question is how many more steps will he be able to make in advancing it.

We’ve been to this show before – with wilderness proposals stretching back to late 1980s that were stalled for one reason or another. The devil is always in the details, and as specifics of the Rocky Mountain Front Heritage plan develop (it hasn’t been introduced yet) critics will begin to emerge and some may have worthy positions.

As envisioned now, the act would add 67,000 acres of new wilderness along the front, converting buffer lands outside the Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex that are managed by the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management.

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Baucus will sponsor Rocky Mountain Front Heritage Act

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Posted yesterday evening to the Missoulian (includes a nice map) . . .

U.S. Sen. Max Baucus announced Friday he will sponsor a bill to expand the wilderness on the Rocky Mountain Front, saying the proposal has a good chance of being the first wilderness designation in the state since the early 1980s.

Conservationists who have been working on the Rocky Mountain Front Heritage Act for about six years tout the measure as a compromise among varied groups aimed at keeping development and road access on the Front at its current levels. Opponents have said more wilderness designations could hinder access, mineral exploration and ranching operations.

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