Kootenai Forest Project Blocked Days Before Logging to Begin
HELENA — Two federal appellate judges have blocked a Kootenai National Forest logging project two days before cutting was to begin. The East Reservoir Project approved by the U.S. Forest Service calls for logging 8,845 acres of forest on the east side of Lake Koocanusa, approximately 15 miles east of Libby. The timber total — roughly 39 million board feet – represents more board feet than the Kootenai National Forest typically harvests in a year. The timber harvest in 2012 was 24 million board feet. During the logging heyday of the 1980s, however, the annual Kootenai timber harvest often topped 200 million
Daines, Klobuchar Introduce Legislation to Encourage Landscape Approach to Forest Management
U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senators Steve Daines (R-MT) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) today introduced legislation to encourage cross boundary management of forests to protect water resources, enhance wildlife habitat, restore forest health, and strengthen local economies. The bipartisan Environmental and Economic Benefits Restoration Act of 2016 would encourage a landscape approach to forest management. “I’ve been working closely with Montanans to make sure that we have locally-driven management of our forests,” Daines stated. “This bipartisan solution will help create healthy forests and more good-paying jobs.” The Environmental and Economic Benefits Restoration Act of 2016, a part of Daines’ effort to improve forest management: Bolsters the use of Good
Missoulian: Daines introduces good-neighbor forestry bill
State foresters would have more ways to help manage federal and private forests under a bipartisan proposal authored by senators Steve Daines and Amy Klobuchar. Daines, R-Mont., and Klobuchar, D-Minn., introduced the Environmental and Economic Benefits Restoration Act of 2016 on Monday evening. In an interview on Tuesday, Daines said the legislation would make it easier for states to help the U.S. Forest Service get hazardous fuels reduction work done. “One frustration we have as Montanans, is we see the state out managing state lands, but we don’t see our national forests getting actively managed,” Daines said. “This would allow
Sen. Daines: We must never forget horrors of 9/11
It has been 15 years since the horrific terror attack of Sept. 11, 2001, that rocked our nation and forever changed our world. With the barbaric acts of terrorists, 2,977 people’s lives were taken when four jet planes were hijacked and crashed into some of our nation’s most emblematic landmarks. In the wake of the collisions, 411 brave responders lost their own lives while attempting to rescue survivors and fight fires. I don’t revisit these facts lightly, nor do I think that any American could ever forget the loss and terror of that day. Rather, I begin this way because
Great Falls Tribune: Great Falls, Malmstrom remember 9/11
For Col. Ron Allen, the morning of Sept. 11, 2001, “started like any other.” He was a captain at the time, working at the Pentagon. Now he’s the commander of the 341st Missile Wing at Malmstrom. That morning, he woke up at 6 a.m. as usual and headed to work. Not long after arriving, office chatter turned to the attack on the World Trade Center happening in New York City. “We all knew then our nation was under attack,” Allen said during a ceremony in the Malmstrom chapel Friday. But work continued at the Pentagon, and he was headed to
Havre Daily News: Little Shell recognition moves forward in Congress
The Little Shell Band of Chippewa Cree Indians won a key victory Thursday in their longtime effort to become a federally recognized tribe. The Little Shell Tribe of the Chippewa Cree Restoration Act of 2015, introduced by Rep. Ryan Zinke, R-Mont ., would grant the Montana tribe federal recognition. It passed through the House Committee on Natural Resources Thursday. The same legislation passed the Senate Indian Affairs Committee last year. “I am fairly happy with today’s outcome, and I am happy that we were able to move it forward in a significant manner,” Zinke said during a telephone press conference. The legislation is part
Daines Announces Funding for Veteran Horse Therapy Program in Billings
GREAT FALLS, Mont. – United States Senator Steve Daines today announced that Horses Spirits Healing, Inc., based in Billings, received funding from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to help assist veterans and improve the ability of returning service members to integrate back into their communities. The funding is part of the VA Adaptive Sports Program for Disabled Veterans and Disabled Members of the Armed Forces. Daines wrote a letter of support for the grant which is available to read here. The funds will cover 700 session hours for veterans. “When the men and women return from their service to their communities
Daines Honors Montanan of the Week: Sanders County Sheriff Tom Rummel
GREAT FALLS, Mont. — U.S. Senator Steve Daines today recognized Sanders County Sheriff Tom Rummel. Thanks to Sheriff Rummel’s initiative and hard work, Montanans affected by the Copper King Fire have been kept safe and up to speed on the latest fire activity. Daines’ recognition in the Congressional Record is available here. Through his “Montanan of the Week” initiative, Daines each week will highlight a Montanan by submitting a statement of recognition in the official Congressional Record, the document that reflects the official proceedings of Congress. Daines welcomes anyone to nominate fellow Montanans for Daines’ “Montanan of the Week” program by calling
Billings Gazette: Zinke bill to end coal leasing ban, add community input, advances
A bill to overturn a temporary ban on federal coal leases — while also giving state and local governments a bigger say in leasing — was approved Thursday by the House Natural Resources Committee. Western lawmakers have been demanding for months that federal officials end the coal-leasing ban, which Department of Interior officials imposed last spring while they tried to determine whether the public is getting a fair royalty payment on federal coal. U.S. Rep. Ryan Zinke, R-Mont., authored the bill, which added a twist to the leasing ban debate by creating a royalty policy committee from which state, tribal and energy