Wild Bill
LET'S HAVE A LITTLE TRANSPARENCY
Tester, Secrecy on Wilderness Bill is Embarrassing
Two weeks ago (June 22), I posted a short story about Senator Jon Tester (D-MT) getting ready to test the political waters on the Wilderness issue. I based the story mainly on background noise from key stakeholders who have been left out of the process, which is most of us. All were rightfully angry, as they should be, that Senator Tester wouldn't involve them in the process of developing this significant legislation. At the time, I tried to get any details about the upcoming legislation from Tester's office or green groups working on it, but all refused to say anything except that introduction was imminent.
This Monday (July 6), Associated Press writer Matt Gouras wrote an excellent article highlighting the same point--a Wilderness bill coming soon, but refusals by Tester's staff and green group insiders to give any details on what might be in it.
Wilderness and forest management are huge issues for most Montanans, and I'm delighted to see Senator Tester finally start to think about fulfilling his campaign promise to protect Montana's roadless lands, but this secretive, exclusive process of developing this major legislation is embarrassing.
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THE LEGACY OF KENTON CARNEGIE
What Could Make the Wolf Even More Controversial?
Anything wolf makes big headlines--and, it seems, is never old news.
For fourteen years since conservationists and the federal government brought the wolf back to the northern Rockies (plus several years leading up to the reintroduction), anything and everything about the Big Dog has been, to say the least, controversial.
But something hasn't happened yet that could make it much more contentious.
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IS ANOTHER LAYER OF PROTECTION WORTH THE COST?
Is National Park Wilderness a Good Idea?
If you've read any of my past columns, you know I'm a strong proponent of designating more Wilderness, but when considering whether to support including our national parks under the National Wilderness Preservation System, I have to wonder if this is a good idea. Here's why. [more]
HOW TO ENJOY BICYCLING CITY STREETS
Practical Tips for Making Bicycle Commuting Safer and Easier
More and more people are making the big move to bicycle commuting and finding out it isn't that difficult or dangerous to make it to work or school or coffee shop or grocery store, but even more haven't make the move. Having talked about this issue with many who haven't, I made a list of practical tips and advice that address many of the common concerns I've heard.
I've been commuting around town on my bicycle for thirty years without a single accident involving a motor vehcile, and for a long time, I couldn't understand why people didn't do it, but now, I get it.
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ADDRESS AMERICA'S NO. 1 CONSERVATION ISSUE
No Child Left Inside
Something happened, back on Earth Day 2009, that didn't get nearly the fanfare it deserved.
Citing the critical need to improve environmental education across the country, Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) and Congressman John Sarbanes (D-MD) introduced House and Senate versions of the "historic" No Child Left Inside Act of 2009. If passed, it would mark the first environmental education legislation to pass Congress in more than 25 years.
And long overdue, I might add.
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THREE FREE WEEKENDS IS GREAT; NOW TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL
Salazar, Permanently Waive National Park Entrance Fees
Yesterday, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar announced he was waiving national park entrance fees for three prime summer weekends (June 20-21, July 18-19 and August 15-16), a widely reported and welcomed pronouncement.
But I'm more interested in the back story.
To me, even though Salazar didn't say a word about it, his action seems to forecast a new philosophy coming out of the National Park Service (NPS), starting with this admission that ever-increasing fees are partly responsible for steadily declining park visitation. And ending, hopefully, with something I trumpeted two years ago in this column, making our national parks a free tradition.
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GAME OVER, FINALLY, GUN GUYS WIN
Political Irony Reigns as President Obama Signs “MasterBlaster Bill”
I suppose I should let it go, but nobody else does, so why should I?
This is my third column about the now-infamous administrative rule to allow loaded, concealed firearms in national parks and wildlife refuges (links at end of column). The rule evolved into a symbolic and high priority political battle, and both pro-gun and anti-gun groups seized on it as a way to find out who had the power.
And now we know. The gun lobby wins, easily, which is no surprise to me.
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I'M READY FOR SOMEBODY TO DO SOMETHING NOW
Hikers, Mountain Bikers and Wilderness, Afterthoughts
In April, I posted a two-part series (links at end of column) on the conflict between hikers and bikers over roadless land protection. The comment threads following these commentaries exploded with a plethora of wide-reaching and innovative thought. Unlike most threads, most commenters stayed reasonably close to the subject and built on the original commentaries with a massive collection of good ideas.
A bit too massive, actually, as the nearly 400 comments exceeded the limits of our system and regrettably some of the later comments may be lost forever in cyberspace. I read them all, though, and I'll try to summarize some of the key thoughts coming out of this sincere exchange of opinions.
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VISIONS OF 1984, BIG BROTHERISM GONE AMUCK
Vilsack, Ease Off on RAT Litigation
Finding somebody who isn't happy with the federal government is easy. Finding somebody who will volunteer most of his or her life to doing something about it is extremely difficult.
One such person is Mary Ellen Barilotti.
Retired from the Santa Barbara, California, county attorney's office and now living in Hood River, Oregon. Barilotti has been fighting on behalf of a small nonprofit group called the Western Slope No-Fee Coalition (WSNFC) against the illegal and abusive implementation of the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (FLREA) or Recreation Access Tax (RAT) to its many critics.
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FOLLOWING MY SHOTS
Montana Legislative Scorecard
I still have emotional scars from not making the basketball team. Back then, my coach told me, "Well, you're short, but you're slow." And that was the end of my basketball career. I did learn something, though, to follow my shots.
The Montana Legislature passed its budget bill and went home last week. During the session, I wrote commentaries about three bills our state lawmakers deliberated. Here's what happened on these three bills.
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