[MCN] Montana Wilderness Association working to triple industrial logging on Kootenai National Forest?

[John Meyer]

Matthew,

Several people have emailed me asking if you have responded.

What do you say--can we develop a small timber project if the wood stays in
Montana and is sold as a finished product in a Montana community?

On Wednesday, October 12, 2016, John Meyer <John at cottonwoodlaw.org> wrote:

> Matthew,
>
> Do you think any timber should be harvested from Forest Service lands?
>
>
>
> On Wed, Oct 12, 2016 at 8:36 AM, Matthew Koehler via
> Missoula-Community-News <missoula-community-news at bigskynet.org
> <javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','missoula-community-news at bigskynet.org');>>
> wrote:
>
>> It's worth remembering that the Kootenai National Forest belongs equally
>> to all Americans, not just a handful of local people in Montana. As you'll
>> see below the Montana Wilderness Association and Yaak Valley Forest Council
>> are part of a non-transparent, exclusive "collaborative" group that has
>> apparently developed a legislative plan to triple industrial logging on the
>> Kootenai National Forest by accessing the forest from different areas.  If
>> you care deeply about the future of America's public lands legacy this is
>> yet another recent example of where some 'collaborative' groups in Montana
>> are severely undermining that legacy. Please consider contacting Montana's
>> congressional delegation and let them know you oppose these efforts to
>> legislate huge increases in industrial logging on National Forests in
>> Montana. Thanks.
>>
>>
>> *Kootenai Stakeholders Coalition prepare for legislative campaign*
>>
>> http://www.thewesternnews.com/news/kootenai-stakeholders-coa
>> lition-prepare-for-legislative-campaign/article_d15464f8-
>> 8fd7-11e6-805f-c798d6bb8bae.html
>>
>> The Kootenai National Forest covers a vast majority of Lincoln County’s
>> natural resources, recreation and wilderness areas. Lincoln County
>> currently claims the second-highest unemployment rate in the state, *prompting
>> calls for the community to open up the forests for timber harvests*.
>> Others demand allocated wilderness areas, while another group maintains
>> that *snowmobiling remains a right on public land*.
>>
>> About 10 years ago, a group formed to bring those interests to one
>> conversation. After about a decade of developing collaborative goals
>> between groups of different interests, *the Kootenai Forest Stakeholders
>> Coalition is now working on getting those goals stamped with federal
>> legislative approval.*
>>
>> “Without implementation, or the ability to implement what we’ve been
>> working on for the last seven years, it’s really just ink on paper,” said
>> State Sen. Chas Vincent, R-Libby, an associate at Environomics, a public
>> relations group focused on connecting government affairs and timber
>> management. “It’s everyone rolling up their sleeves, and saying there’s 2.2
>> million acres here; there’s something for everyone.”
>>
>> The coalition formed in 2006, drawing from different groups whose
>> interests include timber harvest, wilderness and recreation. During the
>> last seven of those 10 years, the coalition has developed a list of
>> guidelines that the organization says can enhance all three while hurdling
>> the endless advance of environmental litigation in order to get
>> Congressional approval.
>>
>> Today, the coalition includes officials from lumber companies, Lincoln
>> County,* Montana Wilderness Association, the Yaak Valley Forest Council*;
>> even the Troy Snowmobile Club. Community members from Eureka, Troy, Libby,
>> Columbia Falls and Thompson Falls make up the organization.
>>
>> *The current Forest Service plan expects that the Kootenai could produce
>> around 40 million board feet of timber, but Vincent said the coalition’s
>> plan could draw about 90-120 million board feet by accessing the forest
>> from different areas.*
>>
>> But before the process goes into legislative form, Vincent said the
>> coalition needs public outreach to ensure that everyone’s concerns are
>> heard before the bill is brought to Washington, D.C.
>>
>> “We need a process that recognizes that there are excellent, diverse
>> people working in a collaborative fashion with the agency that will manage
>> the watershed for future generations,” he said. “As a Kootenai pilot
>> project, we need all the communities supportive of that pilot. That’s what
>> we’re beginning to do.”
>>
>> Amy Robinson, northwest region field director for the Montana Wilderness
>> Association and a member of the coalition, said the organization is
>> currently scheduling a lineup of public open houses expected to begin
>> sometime this month. The coalition’s website, kootenaifuture.org, went
>> live a few weeks ago and outlines the goals developed during the last 10
>> years.
>>
>> “We no longer want to fight old battles because there’s an amazing amount
>> we already agree on,” Robinson said. “People really want to move forward in
>> the community. That comes from a lot of different interest groups and
>> leadership.”
>>
>> Vincent said in order to best prepare for bringing the coalition’s plan
>> to Congress, members of the community have to be on board with the
>> coalition’s plan.
>>
>> “We have to make sure we get those three legs of the stool attached
>> firmly,” Vincent said. “We have a lot of work to do before prime time. But
>> we’re getting close.”
>>
>> Reporter Seaborn Larson may be reached at 758-4441 or by email at
>> slarson at dailyinterlake.com
>> <javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','slarson at dailyinterlake.com');>.
>>
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>
>
> --
>
> <http://www.cottonwoodlaw.org>
>
> John Meyer
> Executive Director & General Counsel
> Cottonwood Environmental Law Center
> P.O. Box 412 Bozeman, MT 59771
> John at Cottonwoodlaw.org
> (406) 546-0149
>
> The information contained herein is privileged and confidential. If you
> are not the intended recipient, you must delete this email and inform the
> sender of the error.
>
> www.cottonwoodlaw.org
>
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>

-- 

<http://www.cottonwoodlaw.org>

John Meyer
Executive Director & General Counsel
Cottonwood Environmental Law Center
P.O. Box 412 Bozeman, MT 59771
John at Cottonwoodlaw.org
(406) 546-0149

The information contained herein is privileged and confidential. If you are
not the intended recipient, you must delete this email and inform the
sender of the error.

www.cottonwoodlaw.org
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