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Talk From the Trail - Wilderness Tour, Day 4

01/08/10

 PHILIPSBURG, 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 of the comments and ideas he heard at public listening sessions and various meetings in western Montana.

“These public listening sessions are about listening to the public,” said Rehberg. “I'll take what I learn back to Washington with me to help make sure any proposal reflects a stronger consensus approach to Jon’s bill.”

  • Several Montanans worry that Senator Tester's wilderness bill fails to consider mining interests, saying vast mineral deposits within the proposed designation have not been adequately inventoried, and banning future exploration would hinder the local economy.
  • Another individual explained that important metals unique to the area, such as molybdenum, could not be extracted as a result of the bill’s passage. He claimed that molybdenum, which is used in the production of cell phones, computers and jet engines, would afford real economic opportunities for Montana.
  • A supporter of Senator Tester’s legislation argued that one wilderness designation in 26 years would not support a claim that there is a state of "perpetual, incremental wilderness creation".
  • A representative of Montanans for Multiple Use criticized the absence of new roads and campground construction in the bill. Another suggested that if any new jobs were created, they would be temporary and commissioned solely for the purpose of destroying valuable infrastructure, such as forest roads needed to fight fires.
  • At Rehberg’s public listening session in Philipsburg, an attendee claimed that since wilderness areas are visited by only 2-3 percent of the population, wilderness should comprise a similar percentage of America’s public landmass.
  • A handicapped woman said she moved to the region for the purpose of seeking handicap-accessible locations to recreate, and fears new wilderness designations would prevent her from enjoying these destinations.