From today’s Flathead Beacon . . .
U.S. Sen. Jon Tester released some changes Thursday to his logging and wilderness bill, beating back a Washington, D.C.-based rewrite of the carefully crafted Montana compromise.
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Flathead Forest launching series of stimulus projects
From today’s Daily Inter Lake . . .
The Flathead National Forest is launching a series of federal stimulus projects this summer, some of which will cause temporary access changes across the forest.
“We are doing so much improvements that the public is going to like this and appreciate it. They will be very noticeable,” said Denise Germann, the forest’s public affairs officer.
However, Germann said there will be temporary inconveniences at some locations, and that is why the forest is engaged in a outreach effort to inform the public about where construction activity is under way.
“We highly encourage forest users to plan ahead, and visit our website or contact us directly regarding temporary closures and access changes this summer and next,” she said.
No surprises in first day of federal wolf case
There were no surprises in the first day of the hearing on whether gray wolves should be placed back under the Endangered Species Act in Montana and Idaho. Both sides presented the expected arguments. Here’s the lead-in from a relevant AP story. . .
A federal judge heard arguments Tuesday on whether gray wolves in Montana and Idaho should be protected once more under the Endangered Species Act and whether those states can ensure the species won’t be wiped out under their management.
Wolves return to court
The latest round in the lawsuit regarding Endangered Species Act delisting of gray wolves kicks off Tuesday. Today’s Missoulian has a good overview of the situation . . .
The wolves themselves may be the only ones who won’t be at the Russell Smith Courthouse on Tuesday morning when U.S. District Judge Don Molloy returns to arguments about the predator’s Endangered Species Act status.
Tester Calls Forest Bill Changes ‘Dead on Arrival’
From last Wednesday’s Flathead Beacon . . .
U.S. Sen. Jon Tester has dismissed a proposed rewrite of his forest bill as “dead on arrival,” and promised to publicly post his counteroffer that is expected next week.
Tester’s bill would create new wilderness in parts of Montana, while increasing logging requirements and establishing permanent recreation areas.
A Senate committee recently came up with its own version that does away with the logging and other mandates that are central to a deal crafted by a group of Montana loggers, environmentalists and others.
“People assume it’s mine, and its not because it does not have those components in there,” Tester said of the new draft. “It’s dead on arrival, as far as I am concerned.”
Schweitzer says feds ‘let us down’ on protecting North Fork
Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer is annoyed at the slow progress retiring mining leases in the Canadian Flathead — not because the Canadians are dragging their feet, but because he feels the U.S. government is not doing their part. However, there seems to be two sides to this story.
Here’s an AP article from the 4th of June providing a good overview of Schweitzer’s stance:
Gov. Brian Schweitzer said Thursday that he’s disappointed the federal government hasn’t come up with about $17 million needed to compensate mining companies as part of a deal with Canada to protect the area surrounding Glacier National Park.
The joint U.S.-Canada deal seeks to halt ongoing exploration and calls for a stop to future development of gold, coal, oil and gas in much of the Flathead River Basin. The basin sprawls across some 9,000 square miles and straddles the border.
Schweitzer and British Columbia Premier Gordon Campbell signed the memorandum of understanding in February. It lays out several goals, including the compensation of two small companies that will have to walk away from their mines.
And here’s an editorial by Kellyn Brown of the Flathead Beacon questioning Schweitzer’s view:
It’s hard to know what to make of Gov. Brian Schweitzer’s recent criticism of his “federal partners” for, according to him, failing to secure $17 million to compensate Canadian mining companies so they will abandon their mining leases near Glacier National Park.
Webmaster emerges from hibernation
Sorry about the hiatus in postings, folks. As some of you know, I run a small consulting firm, specializing in computer and network support for small businesses. This makes me a canary in the coal mine when it comes to economic conditions. When things start to go pear-shaped, I notice it early-on. When conditions improve, I’m one of the first to get busy. This occurred with a vengeance over the past few months as pent-up demand for computer services exacerbated an already overburdened schedule.
Anyway, I’ve emerged from my cave, bleary-eyed, but enjoying the Spring weather and ready to start posting some new material.
B.C. Premier Campbell & Montana Gov. Schweitzer sign agreement banning mining & energy development in Flathead basin
They did it. In the promised follow-up to last week’s announcement that British Columbia was halting all resource extraction activities in the Canadian Flathead, British Columbia Premier Gordon Campbell and Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer met today in Vancouver, B. C. to sign an agreement banning mining and energy development throughout the transboundary Flathead Valley.
The Missoulian has the best coverage . . .
With an exchange of bolo ties and Olympic mittens, Gov. Brian Schweitzer and British Columbia Premier Gordon Campbell signed an agreement in Vancouver to ban mineral and energy extraction in the cross-border Flathead River Basin on Thursday morning.
“I’m not taking credit for this,” Schweitzer said after the ceremony. “There are people who’ve spent their lifetime working on this goal. I’ve run one lap. And now I’m handing the baton along to the congressional delegation. They have a tall order to convince their colleagues this is the right thing and the right time to do it.”
For those of you who like to read source documents, here is the full text of the “Memorandum of Understanding and Cooperation on Environmental Protection, Climate Action and Energy” signed today by Premier Campbell and Governor Schweitzer and witnessed by Kathryn Teneese, Chair of Ktunaxa Nation Council and Michel Kenmille, Council Member of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes.
Watch and wait: Few details yet on Canadian Flathead mining ban
From today’s Missoulian comes a must-read discussion of what’s not being said about the recent announcement of a mining ban in the Canadian Flathead watershed . . .
To sense the delicacy of an international mining ban along the North Fork of the Flathead River, it helps to hear what isn’t being said.
Note: We’ve also posted the February 9th “Flathead Watershed Area Order” that triggered all the excitement and discussion.
Baucus & Tester plan legislation banning mining & energy development in North Fork
Not to be outdone by the folks north of the 49th parallel, U.S. Senators Max Baucus and Jon Tester will introduce legislation banning mining and energy development on federal lands in the North Fork Flathead drainage.
The Missoulian has the story . . .
Two days after British Columbia placed the area north of Glacier National Park off limits to mining, Montana’s leadership announced it would do the same on federal lands here.
“We need to show the Canadians we’re working in good faith on our side of the border, as well,” said Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont.