Tag Archives: Steve Daines

John Frederick: North Fork Protection Vital

Commentary, Environmental Issues, , , ,

The following letter to the editor by NFPA President John Frederick was posted to the Flathead Beacon’s web site July 19 . . .

Republican Congressman Steve Daines has introduced HR 2259, a North Fork Watershed Protection Act, and he deserves much credit for doing so.

Democratic Sens. Max Baucus and Jon Tester had earlier introduced virtually identical legislation (Senate Bill 255). It passed out of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee on June 18 of this year.

The legislation withdraws federal minerals from future leasing only on Forest Service land in the North Fork (and a slice of federal land in the Middle Fork along the river) not currently under valid existing leases. More than 200,000 acres of leases have been voluntarily relinquished that represents 80 percent of the leased land.

When this legislation is enacted it will complete a gentleman’s agreement between British Columbia and Montana to not allow leasing of minerals in the Flathead of B. C. and the North Fork of the Flathead because of concerns about wildlife and clean water. The Canadians were considerably faster to do their part of the agreement.

Steve Daines is a Republican. He has not let partisan politics get in the way of working with Democrats toward a worthwhile goal. His efforts will ensure quicker action on the legislation and I wish to thank him.

John Frederick
Polebridge

Trout Unlimited comes out in favor of North Fork protection

Commentary, Environmental Issues, , , ,

In an op-ed in the Ravalli Republic, The Flathead Valley Chapter of Trout Unlimited came out in favor of the North Fork Watershed Protection Act . . .

The Flathead Valley Chapter of Trout Unlimited has long been committed to protecting the Flathead River system, one of the last best strongholds for native bull trout and westslope cutthroat trout. While the North Fork of the Flathead River corridor is protected by the Wild and Scenic River designation, the eastern tributaries and uplands are secured in Glacier National Park, and the Canadian headwaters are protected by a provincial ban on mining and drilling, the nearly 400,000 acres of the North Fork watershed within the Flathead National Forest remain open to mineral and energy development.

The recent introduction of legislation by Rep. Steve Daines, R-Mont., to protect the North Fork of the Flathead from mineral entry and leasing is welcome news. Mirroring legislation in the Senate that was introduced earlier this year by Democratic Sens. Max Baucus and Jon Tester, the North Fork Watershed Protection Act (HR 2259) would ensure the protection of the 400,000 acres of national forest land in the North Fork watershed by withdrawing federal lands from mining and mineral leasing. While existing leases would not be affected, already more than 200,000 acres of oil and gas leases have been voluntarily relinquished by several lease holders. Not only is this legislation widely supported in Montana, it also honors British Columbia’s commitment to do the same on their side of the border.

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Daines introduces North Fork Watershed Protection Act in U.S. House

Environmental Issues, News, , , ,

Here is the Missoulian’s take on U.S. Rep. Steve Daines’ introduction of the North Fork Watershed Protection Act in U.S. House of Representatives . . .

Citing its supply of clean water and the coalition of support backing its protection, U.S. Rep. Steve Daines on Wednesday introduced legislation restricting new mineral development in the North Fork Flathead watershed.

Daines, R-Mont., introduced the North Fork Watershed Protection Act of 2013 in the House of Representatives, joining U.S. Sens. Max Baucus and Jon Tester, both Democrats, who introduced a similar measure in the Senate.

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Daines introduces House version of North Fork Watershed Protection Act

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U.S. Rep. Steve Daines just introduced a U.S. House version of the North Fork Watershed Protection Act that is currently slogging its way through the Senate . . .

U.S. Rep. Steve Daines, R-Mont., on Wednesday formally introduced legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives that would block mining and energy development in the North Fork Flathead River drainage on the western boundary of Glacier National Park.

The bill, H.R. 2259, is nearly identical, both in name and content, to its companion bill in the Senate, the North Fork Watershed Protect Act, which Democratic U.S. Sens. Max Baucus and Jon Tester introduced in February.

The public lands bills seek to furnish permanent protections on more than 400,000 acres of U.S. Forest Service parcels, placing them off limits to hard-rock mining, mountaintop-removal coal mining, and oil and gas development.

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Daines holds ‘listening session’ on Rocky Mountain Front legislation

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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

Environmental Issues, News, , ,

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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