How is the U-S Forest Service doing?
(CHOTEAU) –SO WHAT KIND OF A JOB IS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DOING
IN MANAGING U-S FOREST SERVICE LANDS.
ACCORDING TO THE TETON COUNTY COMMISSIONERS IN CHOTEAU, NOT
VERY GOOD.
THE COMMISSIONERS IN THEIR RESPONSE TO A SURVEY FOR THE STATE
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY COUNCIL SAY, FOR EXAMPLE THAT PAYMENTS IN LIEU
OF TAXES AND THE SECURE RURAL SCHOOLS REVENUE SHARING PAYMENTS ARE NOT
EQUAL TO THE AMOUNT THAT ACTUAL LAND TAXATION WOULD BRING IN FROM
HARVEST OR EXTRACTION OF NATURAL RESOURCES.
STATE SENATOR JENNIFER FIELDER, THE SPONSOR OF MONTANA SENATE JOINT
RESOLUTION 15 SAID FOREST SERVICE ADMINISTRATORS HAVE PROVIDED TESTIMONY
TO A RESOLUTION WORKING GROUP CONFIRMING THAT “FEDERALLY MANAGED LANDS
ARE IN WORSE CONDITION TODAY THAT THEY WERE 50 YEARS AGO AND THAT THE
FOREST SERVICE BUDGET IS NOW PRIMARILY DEDICATED TO FIGHTING LAWSUITS AND
FIGHTING WILDFIRES INSTEAD OF PROVIDING HEALTHY, SUSTAINABLE SUPPLIES OF
TIMBER AND WATER IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PURPOSE FOR WHICH THE FOREST
SERVICE WAS CREATED.
TETON COUNTY COMMISSION CHAIRMAN JIM HODGSKISS ALSO SAID THE LOCAL
COUNTY IS NOT GETTING THE BENEFIT OF JOBS OR ECONOMIC PRODUCTIVITY THAT
THE FOREST SERVICE LANDS ARE CAPABLE OF. QUOTED IN THE CHOTEAU ACANTHA,
HODGSKISS SAID “WE BASE THAT ON THE HISTORICAL RECORD. FOR EXAMAPLE, HE
SAYS, “THERE USED TO BE AT LEAST THREE SAWMILLS IN THE FOREST, PEOPLE MADE A
LIVING DOING THAT.”