Federal land comment period nears end

SANDERS COUNTY – An ongoing yearlong study will soon be coming to a close as state senators will determine what steps are to be taken in regards to federal forest management.

The public comment period for the draft report on the evaluation of federal land management in Montana is in its final weeks.

All comments regarding the federal land study are due to local state legislators by Aug. 16.

The study was the product of State Joint Resolution NO. 15, of which Thompson Falls State Senator Jennifer Fielder was a sponsor.

“The study is a comprehensive look to identify problems and corrections with federal land management in Montana,” Fielder said.

The joint resolution, introduced to the floor of the State Senate one year ago, was put forward in order to investigate current federal land management strategies and determine possible solutions.

SJ 15 was passed in the spring of 2013 and will wrap up in the coming months following the public comment period.

“It’s an exploration of all lawful mechanisms to improve federal land management,” Fielder said.

Senator Fielder also served on the working group for the SJ 15 study.

Currently, the United States Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management manage over 25 percent, or 25 million acres of land within the state of Montana.

Fielder is one of several state senators who believe federal land management policies deserve to be addressed.

“The disconnect between Washington D.C. and the west has been magnified over time,” Fielder said.

The findings published in the draft study currently in the public comment period seem to back up Fielder’s opinion.

The draft study stated, “Risks and concerns associated with federal land management are serious and numerous.”

The study cited survey results from county commissioners, analysis of available information, and testimony received from citizens, agency staff, interest groups, elected officials and experts to back up its position.

The study went on to list the need to reduce wildfire fuels, increase or maintain multiple use access, increase economic production, strengthen local involvement and increase accountability as imperative reasons to achieve better and more active management of Montana’s wild lands.

Fielder believes the study accomplished what it set out to do and identified ongoing issues with the federal system currently in place.

“The study did well to identify and document the current problems,” Fielder said.

A number of state senators throughout Montana have proved wary of the study and have accused their peers of using the bi-partisan effort as an underhanded effort to transfer federal lands to the stewardship of state entities.

However, the bi-partisan EQC recommended the state legislature pursue transferring federally controlled public lands to the state of Montana only after all other options have been fully investigated.

Fielder noted there remains much work to be done surrounding the issue of federal land management within the state.

“As far as solving the problem we are a long way away,” Fielder said.

One of the major recommendations of the SJ 15 study was to urge the governor’s office to establish a Federal Lands Committee.

The proposed committee would work to coordinate, collaborate, and assist federal, state, county, public, and private land managers in their tasks.