Judging by the civil and substantive discussion and considerable
support from Montanans for the Forest Jobs and Recreation Act, it may
well be one of the most relevant and timely pieces of natural resource
legislation to grace our great state in a very long time.
Rightfully, there have been concerns raised about certain aspects of
the bill. Fortunately, Sen. Tester and his staff are thoughtfully
addressing and exploring all suggestions. When the Forest Service
raised questions last December about mandates for mechanical treatment
of timber, Tester and his staff went to work to address those
questions. A few months later, the Secretary of Agriculture, who
oversees the Forest Service, came to Montana to give Tester's bill his
vote of confidence.
Personally, I have been heartened by recent clarifications that these mechanical treatments will
be focused in heavily roaded areas and that projects will preclude
any new permanent roads. I'm glad that others - including the Forest
Service - are also getting more comfort as the process continues.
I support continued discussion on the Forest Jobs and Recreation Act, and I look forward to its passage and implementation.
Michele K. Reinhart
State representative
Missoula