Monthly Archives: December 2010

More detail available on Tester’s “Forest Jobs & Recreation Act”

December 15, 2010Environmental Issues, NewsForest Jobs and Recreation Act, Forest Jobs and Restoration Pilot Initiative, Jon Tester, wilderness billnfpa

As mentioned yesterday, Sen. Jon Tester’s “Forest Jobs and Recreation Act” has been rolled into the massive, end-of-year, Senate omnibus appropriations bill. There have been some, fairly minor, revisions to the act– nothing substantive. Neither the act’s supporters or opponents seem willing to predict its chances for passage.

Today’s Missoulian has an expanded article on the FJRA, including a discussion of the most recent changes.
Sen. Tester’s web site also has a page devoted to the act’s current status, as well as links to the actual text and associated maps.

Tester’s forest bill added to Senate appropriations measure

December 14, 2010Environmental Issues, NewsForest Jobs and Recreation Act, Forest Jobs and Restoration Pilot Initiative, Jon Tester, wilderness billnfpa

Sen. Jon Tester’s “Forest Jobs and Recreation Act” has been stubbed onto one of those end-of-year Senate appropriations bills. The biggest change from the original proposal appears to be the longer and more obscure title. It is now the “Forest Jobs and Restoration Pilot Initiative.” Today’s Missoulian has the story . . .

A revised version of Sen. Jon Tester’s Montana logging and wilderness initiative has been included in a last-minute omnibus appropriations bill before the U.S. Senate.

Tester spokesman Aaron Murphy said on Tuesday the renamed “Forest Jobs and Restoration Pilot Initiative” is essentially the original version of a bill Tester submitted last year as the Forest Jobs and Recreation Act.

Read the full article . . .

Planning board supports North Fork setback language adjustment

December 12, 2010NewsFlathead County Planning Board, North Fork Land Use Advisory Committee, North Fork Zoning District, setbacksnfpa

This brief mention in today’s Daily Inter Lake belies a lot of work by the North Fork Land Use Advisory Committee . . .

Prohibiting temporary structures from the setback area in the North Fork got a positive recommendation from the Flathead County Planning Board Wednesday night.

The vote was 4-3 in favor of approval.

The North Fork setback text amendments pertained to the 150-foot setback and gave a definition for a temporary structure.

For more background, read the full article . . .

U.S. Forest Service to depend more on private citizens

December 3, 2010Newsenvironmental policy, Leslie Weldon, U.S. Forest Servicenfpa

U.S. Forest Service Regional Forester Leslie Weldon gave a talk at the University of Montana yesterday. The presentation seemed short on specifics, so it wasn’t entirely clear whether he was advocating good things, bad things or just being diplomatic, but any time the Forest Service adjusts the way they do business, it has a pretty significant impact on the North Fork.

The Missoulian has the story . . .

The future of the U.S. Forest Service will depend more on private citizens even as its responsibilities for land management expand, Regional Forester Leslie Weldon said Thursday.

“We’ve had lots of partnerships where citizens step forward with their resources to get work done,” Weldon told an audience at the University of Montana’s Natural Resources and Environmental Policy Forum. “Getting work done is becoming dependent on the strength of relationships with local communities.”