Tester Bill Comments from Members of Last Best Place Wildlands Campaign

By Matthew Koehler, New West Unfiltered 1-19-10

This pdf document contains a sampling of the types of comments submitted to the US Senate Subcommittee on Public Lands and Forests regarding S1470, the Forest Jobs and Recreation Act, by members of the Last Best Place Wildlands Campaign. These comments were officially entered into the record for the Subcommittee’s Dec 17, 2009 hearing.

The Last Best Place Wildlands Campaign is a coalition of conservation organizations and citizens dedicated to wildlands protection, forest restoration and the sound long-term management of America’s public lands legacy. Our coalition includes 4th and 5th generation Montanans, hikers and backpackers, hunters and anglers, wildlife viewers, outfitters and guides, veterans, retired Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management officials, small-business owners, scientists, educators, craftspersons, and community leaders. [End of article]

Comment By Glenn Hockett, 1-20-10

Matt:

Did you see the guest column by Mark Petroni in today's Bozeman Chronicle - Tester Bill an Opportunity for the U.S. Forest Service?

Comment By TreeHugger, 1-20-10

Matt, you forgot obstructionists and hippies on your coalition list.

Comment By Matthew Koehler, 1-21-10

Glen, Thanks for the tip. I haven't seen Mr. Petroni's piece. The free part of the Chronicle website is fairly inadequate, so I've written the editors asking for a copy (no response yet). I look forward to reading it, because in conversations with a few dozen USFS employees, I have still yet to meet any current FS employee who thinks Tester's bill is a good idea, for many of the same reasons expressed in comments from members of our coalition and even the USFS's top brass at the December Senate hearing.

TreeHugger: I recall at one of our coalition meetings in November, we discussed listing "obstructionists and hippies" (along with "terrorists and commies") but we decided, not to. I mean why state the obvious, right? Interesting that you have no comment on the 81 pages/45,000 words worth of comments. Thanks.

Comment By Glenn Hockett, 1-21-10

Matthew:

Thanks for looking into the editorial in the Chronicle. You can add the Gallatin Wildlife Assocation Board of Directors to your list of supporters.

Thanks for all you in depth analysis and work on this important issue.

Comment By NewWesterner, 1-21-10

Thank you Matthew for your tireless effort to stop logging in Montana. I, like you am also a first generation Montanan. I am so disgusted by these uneducated "natives" that seem to think that destroying nature through logging is responsible. That's why I strongly support continued appeals and litigation of FS timber sales by you or similar organizations. Thank you again.

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