Putting
the "Public" Back In "Public Trust"
Attack
On Our Federal Lands By The Montana EQC
This last Wednesday I went to the Environmental Quality Council
meeting in Helena. The EQC had on their agenda a Study of Federal
Land Management with guest speakers from Idaho, Utah, Wyoming,
and Nevada. Repeatedly, these guest speakers would make statements
of "federal overreach", transfer federal lands "back" to the states,
that we need to "work together - numbers make us stronger". I
think they are hoping that, "a lie repeated often enough becomes
the truth."
The meeting ran longer than on the agenda and I was in a carpool
so I did not get to present the data, the facts to refute this
vocal minority of malcontents that are trying to use their legislative
positions to push their federal land grab agenda on to Montanans.
Sen. Jennifer Fielder is chairing this SJ 15 Study of Federal
Land Management. She just came out with an article in the Flathead
Beacon. Transfer
of Public Lands Would Benefit Montana. "Shifting to state-based
management would result in priorities consistent with Montana
values. " I say, Bovine Blossoms of the highest
magnitude!
I did send a public comment to all the members of the EQC the
day before.
SJ
15 Federal Lands Public Comment
As a result of the meeting, I decided to compose a page of data
to fight this agenda here in Montana - the Public
Trust - Federal Lands page. If anyone has any materials
suggestions, please, as always, feel free to submit them.
These selfish malcontents are operating under a number of ...misconceptions,
shall we say. 1. You cant return or take back
what was never the states to begin with. 2.
They speak of numbers making us stronger, yet in US polls in 2013
67% stood opposed to the selling of Federal Public Lands to reduce
the deficit. As awareness of what was at stake, what the public
would lose, the 2014 poll rose to 74% opposition. That clearly
indicates strength in numbers. 3. Montanans
polled at 66% opposition in 2013 and 78% opposition in 2014. Again,
clearly showing the people of this state value their access and
rights to their Federal Public Lands. 4. In
the Montana state report (poll on the Public
Trust - Federal Lands page) 53% of voters identified themselves
as Hunters, while 57% as Anglers, which utilize our Public Trust
Federal Lands. This does not account for the non-consumptive users
of these Federal Public Lands. 5. Additionally,
from a fiscal point of view, the states government would become
so bloated with the employees necessary to administrate these
lands, as well as having to come up with funding to pay for management.
Wildfires alone would devastate a state budget.
Federal
public land equals freedom to roam by Ralph Maughan does
a good job explaining some of the base issues and history of this
movement. "In fact, land acquisition by the United States in North
America took place through treaties and purchases, beginning
with the Louisiana Purchase in 1803 and ending with
the purchase of Alaska in 1867. Through the years, the federal
government acquired 1.8 billion acres in North America. The
U.S. Constitution addresses this in what is called the Property
Clause, not in Article I, section 8, clause 17. The
Property Clause (Article IV, section 3, clause 2) reads, 'The
Congress shall have power to dispose of and make all needful Rules
and Regulations respecting the Territory or other Property belonging
to the United States; and nothing in this Constitution shall be
so construed as to Prejudice any Claims of the United States,
or of any particular State.' "
Keiter’s talk
on parks will open your mind by Todd Wilkinson
examines the Organic Act and the YNP. "Citing examples of conflicts
in parks that arose once the doors of recreational exploitation
were flung open, Keiter warns there’s often unintended negative
consequences to new uses. In most cases, as soon as they are established,
they set in motion impacts that are exceedingly difficult to undo."
Reminder
Dr. Bruce Smith Event - Life
On The Rocks (books for sale at event)
Friday, May 16th, 7:00 pm, refreshments at 6:30
Lindley Center
1102 E. Curtiss Street, Bozeman, MT
Contact Nancy Schultz - 406-582-9720 GWA hosting
Thanks
Finally, I would like to thank the members of the Gallatin Wildlife
Association who voted to contribute $100.00 to the EMWH research
involving the Elk Brucellosis Management that I have been dealing
with for over a year, to bring about scientific wildlife management
of our public trust wildlife. Which has resulted in the current
lawsuit against FWP and the FWP Commission by the Skyline
Sportsmen's Association and the Anaconda Sportsmen's Club,
which is still in discussion.
FWP
fails stakeholders on elk policy OpEd Montana Standard
Thank you,
Kathryn QannaYahu
406-579-7748
www.emwh.org
