WASHINGTON, D.C. - Montana Senator Jon Tester’s Blackfoot Clearwater Stewardship Act was heard in the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing Wednesday, Sept. 16. The U.S. Forest Service spoke in support of the BCSA and shared concerns after representatives expressed that they would work together towards the act’s intended goals.
The next phase will be a vote among all committee members that has not been scheduled yet. If passed, the BCSA will move on to the full Senate for a vote. Tester’s office said he is encouraged by the hearing this week and will be pushing for the vote as soon as possible.
The BCSA would secure access to the 2,013-acre Otatsy area for snowmobilers as well as ensure permanent access to thousands of acres of mountain biking terrain in the Spread Mountain area. Around 79,000 acres would be added to the Bob Marshall, Mission Mountains and Scapegoat Wilderness areas. It further directs the Secretary of Agriculture to develop a landscape assessment of watershed conditions and restoration needs on the Seeley Lake Ranger District within three years of enactment.
Tester described the act as the result of a collective effort between ranchers, recreationists, loggers, mountain bikers and business owners.
“Look, this is a good bill,” Tester said in a video following the hearing. “It’s a good bill because it creates jobs, it helps with the recreation economy, it helps to preserve some land for future generations. It was built by a group of people that came together in a collaborative effort in Montana and said, ‘This is the best way to manage our public lands.’”
National Forest System Deputy Chief Chris French said in a prepared statement that the U.S. Department of Agriculture strongly appreciates Tester’s efforts towards preserving and improving Montana’s natural resources and public lands.
“We recognize that the proposed bill is the product of a collaborative effort, and we appreciate that this legislation would provide benefits to Montana’s communities and the Lolo National Forest,” French said.
While French said the USDA was in favor of BCSA, they had concerns regarding implementation of certain provisions.
Their primary concern was regarding a section that would require the Forest Service to prepare a National Environmental Policy Act analysis for any collaborative proposal that improves trail opportunities within three years of proposal reception. This requirement would affect the Lolo National Forest’s efficiency at planning and prioritizing work. The bill could require recreation use allocation planning for site-specific portions of the Seeley Lake Ranger District ahead of broader plan revisions set to occur in 2023, which would obstruct staff’s ability to broadly inform land use allocations through the plan revision process.
Another section could also affect the staff’s ability to respond quickly to unanticipated events. If enacted as written, the bill’s “explicit timeframes” could result in prioritizing the analysis of a proposal over other emergent work.
USDA was also concerned about the section that would enhance mountain biking opportunities in the Spread Mountain Recreation Area. Said area was recommended as Wilderness by forest staff in their management plan. The area was characterized as having steep topography, sensitive soils, and sensitive fish and wildlife habitats. They did not feel that the area was well-suited for mountain bike use and this designation could create conflicts with wildlife and other recreation uses.
While two of the three wilderness designations are consistent with the Lolo National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan, the West Fork Clearwater was allocated to be managed to optimize Grizzly Bear recovery.
In closing, French said, “We look forward to working with the Committee and Senator Tester to develop modifications to the bill that could provide greater opportunities to foster healthy rural economies and accomplish the shared goals of increasing restoration and facilitating recreation on our public landscapes.”
Senator Steve Daines has been criticized for not committing to supporting the BCSA by members of the Blackfoot Clearwater Stewardship Project, Democrats and other supporters of the Act.
“The Blackfoot Clearwater Stewardship Act has the support of Montana recreationists, conservationists, local businesses and the timber industry, but not Montana’s own Senator,” Montanans for Bullock spokesman Sean Manning said.
According to Tester’s Office, Tester is the only member of the Montana delegation who supports the BCSA. They encourage Montanans in support of the BCSA to help it get passed by writing or calling in to the rest of the delegation to encourage them to support the bill.
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