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Tag: Forest Service

Forest Service Responds to Daines’ Demands to Expedite Salvage Projects

August 6, 2018

U.S. SENATE —U.S. Senator Steve Daines today released comprehensive data on recent forest salvage and restoration projects that have taken place due to Daines’ efforts and the efforts of local elected officials and forest collaboratives. The projects will help reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire and create jobs for Montanans. “Last year’s wildfires were devastating for Montana’s communities and forests. Our state and towns were covered with smoke for weeks at a time, and our once flourishing forests turned into tinderboxes,” Daines said. “I’m thankful that the Forest Service has responded to my request – and the request of local communities – to complete

Daines Applauds Decision to Enhance Tools to Combat Wildfires, Protect Public Safety

May 6, 2016

BILLINGS, Mont. — U.S. Senator Steve Daines today applauded the federal government’s decision to work with Montana to enhance the tools necessary to combat wildfires. “It’s great to see the federal government work with Montanans to combat wildfires,” Daines stated. “While this announcement is a step in the right direction, the Forest Service needs to continue working with our state to utilize all aerial firefighting resources on federal fires at any time to protect our forests and communities.”  Last fire season, Daines urged the United States Department of Agriculture to reverse their prohibition on the use of UH-1H helicopters to combat Montana wildfires. Daines is

Daines Announces Increase in Forest Service Trail Funding

April 15, 2016

U.S. SENATE —At Senator Steve Daines’ urging, the U.S. Forest Service is increasing the FY 2016 trail funding for Montana’s National Forests, reversing their previous decision to cut funding by 30 percent over the next three years. “Montana’s National Forests and public lands are a treasured part of our state and today’s news ensures that Montanans will continue to enjoy our great outdoors,” Daines stated. “As an avid outdoorsman, I know how important maintaining and expanding access to our public lands are for our way of life. This is a welcome step to see the Forest Service value Montanans’ feedback and I will

Daines Pushes to Reduce Red Tape in Forest Management on Federal, Tribal Lands

April 6, 2016

U.S. SENATE — Senator Steve Daines today pushed to find solutions to increase active forest management by reducing red tape on federal lands, including lands adjacent to tribal lands. During this morning’s Senate Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies on the U.S. Forest Service’s Fiscal Year 2017 budget, Daines commended the Forest Service for progress on implementation of the 2014 Farm Bill, while expressing his dismay that it’s not being completed at an adequate pace. “As you are aware, nearly five million acres in Montana were designated as insect and disease areas under the 2014 Farm Bill,” Daines

Daines, Zinke Call on Governor Bullock to Issue Full Approval of the Montanore Project

January 7, 2016

U.S. CONGRESS – Senator Steve Daines and Representative Ryan Zinke are calling on Governor Steve Bullock and the Montana Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) to expeditiously issue full approval for the Montanore Project, which would create much-needed jobs and economic opportunity in Lincoln County.  After more than a decade, the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the Montanore project was recently completed, clearing the way for the U.S. Forest Service and MDEQ to issue Records of Decision approving of Montanore’s plan of operations and required permits. MDEQ is considering a phased approval of the project, which would be inconsistent with the

Daines: We Need Forest Management Reform

November 17, 2015

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator Steve Daines today fervently implored his Senate colleagues to take long-needed action and move forward bipartisan legislation that includes both a solution for wildfire funding and responsible forest management reforms.  Click here to watch Daines’ remarks. Click here to download Daines’ remarks. During a Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing on wildfire management strategies, Daines reiterated the need for comprehensive, bipartisan solutions that address the wildfire funding challenges facing the Forest Service, implement litigation reforms and improve the health of the National Forest system through increased active forest management.  “I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, let’s come

Daines Helps Introduce Bipartisan Public Lands Bill

October 21, 2015

Legislation Would Reauthorize The Federal Land Transaction Facilitation Act WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator Steve Daines today joined a bipartisan group of senators to introduce legislation reauthorizing the Federal Land Transaction Facilitation Act (FLTFA).  Before it expired in 2011, FLTFA allowed the Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. Forest Service, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the National Park Service in the western United States to use the proceeds from sales of certain federally designated areas to protect lands of exceptional conservation value. “As an avid hunter and fisherman, I know the importance of having the tools necessary to protect and

Daines, Zinke Work to Protect Montana Sawmills

September 17, 2015

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator Steve Daines and Representative Ryan Zinke today worked to provide much needed certainty for Montana sawmills, which are facing the expiration of the Softwood Lumber Agreement (SLA) on October 12, 2015. In a letter to US Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell, Daines and Zinke highlighted the economic benefits that sawmills provide Montana and called on Tidwell to provide mills with needed relief and flexibility as they face concerns surrounding the impact of foreign demand and exchange rates on the timber industry.  “We are writing to request that the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) provide appropriate relief and flexibility

Daines Reiterates Call to End Fire Borrowing

August 6, 2015

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator Steve Daines today reiterated his call for the federal government to end the practice of fire borrowing, following the U.S. Forest Service’s recent report on the rising cost of wildfire operations: “Montana has already experienced several high-intensity fires this year. The fire season thus far has been one of the worst in the past decade and has only made more evident the urgent need for a wildfire funding solution. It is critical that Congress end fire borrowing and ensure that the Forest Service can spend more of its budget on making our National Forests more resilient

Montana’s Senators Work to Improve Access to Montana’s Outdoors

June 5, 2015

WASHINGTON, D.C. – In honor of the upcoming National Trails Day, Montana Senators Steve Daines and Jon Tester are working to improve maintenance of Montana’s National Forest trails. Daines and Tester have signed onto S.1110, the National Forest System Trails Stewardship Act of 2015, which would ensure existing Forest Service resources are better used to maintain National Forest trails. It would also significantly increase the role of volunteers and local partners in maintaining the usability and sustainability of the National Forest trail system. “Montana has a rich outdoor heritage that is critical to our state’s economy and our way of