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 Congressman Steve Daines’ bill to revitalize Montana’s timber industry and clear the way for active and responsible forest management in Montana was today approved by the House Natural Resources Committee.  The bill is now set to receive a full vote in the U.S. House of Representatives.

“As a fifth-generation Montana, I know too well how devastating wildfires and the mismanagement of our National Forests can be to our communities, our state’s economy and the health of our forests,” Daines stated.“As most Montanans recognize, the responsible and active management of our National Forests is critical for the health of Montana’s economy, as well as the health of our forests themselves.  That’s why I’m proud to have helped introduce the Restoring Healthy Forests for Healthy Communities Act, which is now one step closer to receiving a full vote in the House. This bill will help create thousands of long-term jobs, protect our environment for future generations, allow tribes, local counties and states to have more input in forest management, and renew the federal government’s commitment to our rural counties.”

The Restoring Healthy Forests for Healthy Communities Act, which Daines joined Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings in introducing in April, works to help revitalize Montana’s timber industry and create thousands of good, long-term jobs, while addressing beetle kill, protecting the environment for future generations and reducing the threat of catastrophic wildfires in Montana.

The Restoring Healthy Forests for Healthy Communities Act will cut the red tape that has held up responsible forest management and timber production and addresses the expiration of the Secure Rural Schools (SRS) program by renewing the federal government’s commitment to manage forest resources.  It also includes comprehensive reforms to discourage and limit the flood of frivolous appeals and litigation that has long held up the responsible stewardship of our National Forests.

Daines also successfully offered two amendments to the Restoring Healthy Forests for Healthy Communities Act, which were adopted by the Committee.

Daines amendment #1

Daines’ first amendment, which was adopted with bipartisan support, would ensure the U.S. Forest Service prioritization of Tribal Forest Protection Act projects, allowing tribes and the USFS to coordinate in hazardous fuel reduction.

The Tribal Forest Protection Act of 2004 (TFPA) was passed in response to devastating wildfires that occurred in many western states that crossed from Federal land onto tribal land in 2003. By design, the TFPAallows tribes to coordinate with the Forest Service in hazardous fuels reduction—keeping their communities safe, their forests healthy, and creating jobs and economic development on their reservations.

However, since implementation, the USFS has failed to prioritize TFPA projects. The mismanagement of National Forests that share borders with tribal lands has a detrimental effect on the health of tribal forests and the tribal economies which rely on these forests. There are 80 million acres of national forest lands that are in need of treatment and pose a threat to tribal resources.

Daines’ amendment ensures that the USFS prioritizes management of the contiguous acres of forest lands that are in need of treatment and pose a threat to tribal resources.

Daines amendment #2

Daines’ second amendment clarifies that categorically excluded projects in National Forests are excluded from the appeals process and can proceed as originally intended to do so, without onerous and lengthy administrative delays.  This change will allow stakeholders and interested groups to be involved in the design of a project before a decision on the project is made, rather than appealing a decision after its announcement.

Without this provision, decisions on important low impact projects conducted by the Forest Service which were once completed in five to ten days will continue to be delayed by at least 30 days and in some cases, up to 145 days.

Background on the Restoring Healthy Forests for Healthy Communities Act

Montana counties rely on more than $22 million in Secure Rural Schools (SRS) funding annually.  In 2011, Beaverhead County received $1.3 million, Flathead County received $1.8 million, Lincoln County received $5 million, and Mineral County received $1 million in SRS funds.

Specifically, the Restoring Healthy Forests for Healthy Communities Act:

·         Requires that the Forest Service actively manage its commercial timber lands to produce revenues.

·         Requires the Forest Service to produce at least half of the sustainable yield of timber each year and, as required by law since 1908, share 25 percent of receipts with the counties.

·         Protects the environment by requiring projects to complete National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and Endangered Species Act (ESA) consultations, but streamlines the process to avoid frivolous and lengthy delays, lawsuits, and bureaucratic red tape.

·         Will provide SRS payments to fulfill the federal government’s commitment to our counties and allow a transition back to payments from active forest management.

Support for Daines’ Efforts

Julia Altemus, Executive Vice President of the Montana Wood Products Association:  “This is a major step forward in the legislative process that will improve forest health and our rural forest economies in Montana and throughout the West. I appreciate Congressman Daines’ hard work and commitment to seeing this legislation through.”

Sherm Anderson, owner and CEO of Sun Mountain Lumber in Deer Lodge: “I am grateful Congressman Daines is willing and committed to improving the health of our forests and the strength of our rural economies. The legislation he has helped to spearhead and strengthen would have real and substantial benefits in Montana’s forests and neighboring communities.  I look forward to continuing to work together as we strive to grow Montana’s timber industry and keep our forests healthy.”

Loren Rose, Chief Operating Officer of Pyramid Mountain Lumber, Inc. in Seeley Lake: “Montana is home to millions of acres of abundant forests, but decades of federal mismanagement have led to overstocked forests, devastating forest fires and insect infestations, diminishing wildlife habitats, and economic instability within our rural counties. Years of litigation and needless red tape have put in place countless barriers that have been detrimental toward the health of our forests and this important industry.  I am thankful that Congressman Daines is leading the way toward real reforms that will help revitalize our state’s woods products industry and ensure that Montana’s forests are properly managed for years to come.”

Chuck Roady, Vice President & General Manager of F.H. Stoltze Land and Lumber Company in Columbia Falls: “As the vice president of the oldest family-owned lumber company in Montana, I know firsthand and witness every day the consequences of the lack of management of the federal forests in our state. I am proud Congressman Daines is joining Chairman Hastings in this effort to preserve our great state’s legacy of responsible forest management, production of wood products for our nation, and to ensure our forests can be healthy for future generations. This legislation could be a game-changer for increasing forest jobs while revitalizing our timber counties and communities in Montana, and I certainly hope it becomes law.” 

Ravalli County Commissioner Greg Chilcott: “Representative Daines understand how the federal government has missed the mark in management of forest lands. While much of our forests are suitable for harvesting, we still face community-threatening wildfires each summer and almost 10 percent unemployment in Ravalli County.  There is much that can be done to better manage our forests, create jobs, and protect our communities from wildfires while assuring local governments have resources they need to best serve the public. I am thrilled to hear Congressman Daines’ commitment to Montana.”