BUTTE, MT – Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, is continuing his wilderness listening tour in order to hear from the stakeholders about proposed wilderness legislation. Below are some the comments and ideas he heard at the public listening session in Butte and various meetings in Southeastern Montana.

“The input I’m hearing from Montanans is proving to be invaluable,” said Rehberg. “It’s my job to listen to all Montanans and do my best to find workable solutions we can all live with. The people who have spoken on either side of this issue have been courteous and knowledgeable. Many have strong feelings, which is understandable, but I truly appreciate their willingness to participate in the process. I definitely do not feel that any of those commenting should be labeled as extremists or at the fringes, as some have said, simply because they disagree with the bill or some of its aspects.”

• A member of the Jackpine Savage Snowmobile Club echoed support for including “trigger” language in any wilderness bill. Such language would designate wilderness recommendations only after a certain amount of acreage is harvested, guaranteeing jobs in addition to new wilderness designations.
• One attendee described the current situation as “perpetuity wilderness.” He stated, if stewardship mandates are set to expire after 10 to 15 years of the bill’s passage, the bill’s wilderness proposals should also expire at that same time.
• One resident asked why wilderness must be a conditional means for legislating timber harvests. He proposed restoring local control by electing range officers to manage Montana’s federal lands. He also proposed that Senator Tester’s bill be placed on the ballot for a referendum.
• A representative of the Montana Backcountry Horsemen expressed his strong support for Senator Tester’s bill, saying that it would afford many benefits to the ailing timber industry while improving fish and wildlife habitat. He also expressed appreciation for Rehberg’s co-sponsorship of the Right-to-Ride Livestock on Federal Lands Act of 2005, which aimed to preserve the use and access of pack and saddle stock animals on public lands, including wilderness.
• An outdoors shop owner suggested that small boundary adjustments could save many miles of trail, but these requests were yet to be considered.