Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee | North Fork Preservation Association

Blue Joint Wilderness Study Area in western Montana - photo by Zack Porter — Blue Joint Wilderness Study Area in western Montana – photo by Zack Porter

Two important bills will receive a hearing before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee on Wednesday, February 7. Senator Steve Daines is a member of this committee.

Please call Senator Daines’ office today at (202) 224-2651.

(1) Ask Senator Daines to SUPPORT S. 507, the Blackfoot Clearwater Stewardship Act.

This bill is the result of an agreement reached by a diversity of citizens—mill owners, snowmobilers, mountain bikers, backcountry horsemen, business owners, and conservationists. The bill meets the needs of these diverse forest users, while designating 80,000 acres of new wilderness and solving many other business and recreation problems. Senator Tester proposed this citizen-developed legislation while Senator Daines has refused to endorse it even though 3 out of 4 Montanans support the bill. Let Senator Daines know that he needs to co-sponsor this made-in-Montana legislation.

(2) Ask Senator Daines to OPPOSE S. 2206, which will end protection of many of Montana’s Wilderness Study Areas.

This bill, introduced by Senator Daines, represents the biggest rollback of protected public land in Montana’s history. Not a single public hearing was held before crafting this legislation affecting almost half of million acres of some of most remote and beautiful public lands in our state, including Big Snowies, Middle Fork Judith, West Pioneers, Sapphire Mountains, and the Blue Joint. Rather than save these lands for future generations to enjoy in their wild state, this legislation could open them for mining, drilling, or destructive development. Ask Senator Daines to withdraw his support for this bill and allow citizens to have a voice in what happens in our wilderness study areas.

Thanks for your support of NFPA.

Warm Regards,

Debo Powers, NFPA President

It appears U.S. Sen. Max Baucus’ North Fork Watershed Protection Act came out of committee last Tuesday with a fair bit of bipartisan momentum this year. The next step is consideration by the full Senate . . .

A measure to protect the North Fork of the Flathead River from energy development won rare bipartisan committee support Tuesday and now heads for the full Senate.

“In this particular Congress, it’s always a big deal when a bill gets reported out unanimously,” National Parks Conservation Association legislative analyst Elise Ligouri said Wednesday. “We think it should be considered for a floor vote in the very near future.”

The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee voted on Sen. Max Baucus’ North Fork Watershed Protection Act along with 11 other bills during its Tuesday markup session.

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