BLUERIBBON COALITION ACTION ALERT!
Dear BRC Action Alert Subscriber,
Attention Recreationists!
Montana Congressman, Denny Rehberg's office (
http://www.house.gov/rehberg/) has sent over an important news release asking for our help in opposing legislation that proposes massive Wilderness expansion in five western states. This serious threat would affect much more than just motorized recreation in Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming. Please do what ever you can to help and pass this information along to everyone you know.
I have pasted their new release below; please take a couple of minutes to read over this important information.
Thanks in advance for your involvement,
Ric Foster
Public Lands Department Manager
BlueRibbon Coalition
208-237-1008 ext 107
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Sent: 10/12/07 8:06 AM
Subject: Rehberg Urges Public to Join Him in Opposing Wilderness Expansion Legislation
Please TAKE A MOMENT AND SIGN ON!
NEWS | Denny Rehberg
October 11, 2007
CONTACT Bridger Pierce - 202-225-3211
Rehberg Urges Public to Join Him in Opposing
Wilderness Expansion Legislation
WASHINGTON - Montana's Congressman, Denny Rehberg, today urged Montana's multiple-use community to join him in opposing legislation, introduced by Representatives Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) and Christopher Shays (R-CT), which would harm public access and recreation in Montana.
"Any piece of legislation affecting public lands must take into consideration input from local communities and those who depend on the resources for work and recreation," said Rehberg, a member of the House Appropriations Committee. "Unfortunately, this legislation is a top-down approach that doesn't properly take into account the impacts on the local economy nor does it adequately protect access for hunting, fishing and other forms of recreation. The Natural Resources Committee plans to hold a hearing on this bill next week and it's important I have written proof that Montanans don't want members from New York and Connecticut dictating our land use policy."
The Northern Rockies Ecosystem Protection Act would designate nearly 7 million acres of public land in Montana as wilderness. This additional acreage would triple Montana's current designation of wilderness acres and result in more than 11% of our state's total acreage being tied up in wilderness. On October 18th, the U.S. House Natural Resources Committee plans to hold a hearing on the bill.
Prior to hearing, Rehberg has created a link on his website urging Montanans to voice their support of his position and opposition to the legislation.
"Not only will this affect recreation but I also have concerns this bill could negatively impact Montana's ability to fight and prevent forest fires," said Rehberg. "Local Montana communities deserve to have a voice in this proposal. I'm hopeful that thousands of postcards saying 'NO' will send a strong, clear message that this bill isn't how we do business in Montana." Link to online form is listed below:
http://www.house.gov/rehberg/survey.shtmlBridger Pierce
Communications Director
Congressman Denny Rehberg (MT-At Large)
516 Cannon HOB
202-225-3211
Cell 202-641-6321
202-225-5687 FAX
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What BRC members and supporters need to know about NREPA
HR 1975 essentially "locks up" an area equal to Connecticut, Delaware, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Vermont, combined. This area, larger than 19 individual states, would become inaccessible to most Americans. There would be no roads and minimal handicapped access.
Not one of the six Members representing the affected areas cosponsored this bill.
HR 1975 designates over 24 million acres of new wilderness, and nearly 2,000 miles of wild and scenic rivers. It withdraws nearly 3 million additional acres from oil, gas and mineral entry and prepares those lands for inclusion in the wilderness system. It designates nearly 2,000 miles of wild and scenic rivers within these same areas.
HR 1975 negatively affects private property rights and state sovereignty. This bill creates a multitude of express, federal reserved water rights, thereby precluding future development upstream of any of the wilderness areas. The language is inconsistent with, and much more draconian than, the language of the Wilderness Act which states: "Nothing in this Act shall constitute an express or implied claim or denial on the part of the Federal Government as to exemption from State water laws."
HR 1975, Title I designates over 19.3 million acres of new wilderness across a five state region. Sec. 110 ultimately removes water rights decisions for most of these lands from the State courts into the Federal courts. Should a state refuse to appropriate the quantity of water claimed by the federal agency or a third party sue the federal agency for not securing sufficient quantities of water through the State appropriation process to fulfill the purposes stated in this bill, the resulting case would be within the jurisdiction of the Federal courts, not State courts.
HR 1975, Title II creates Biological Connecting Corridors by designating another 5 million acres of wilderness and by removing an additional 3 million acres from oil, gas and mineral entry and making it roadless. These 3 million acres would then be eligible for wilderness designation.
HR 1975, Title III designates nearly 2,000 miles of wild and scenic rivers within all of these new wilderness units.
HR 1975, Title IV creates a National Wildland Restoration and Recovery System and a National Wildland Restoration and Recovery Corp within the Forest Service. The intent is to turn an additional 1 million acres into lands suitable for wilderness designation. These lands would also be withdrawn from oil, gas and mineral entry. There is no language authorizing funding for this program included in the title.
HR 1975, Title VI includes language that could be used to argue that federal reserved water rights exist for the wilderness areas that have previously been designated in five states; essentially overturning State water rights laws.
