Letter to Sally Jewell, Secretary of U.S. Department of the Interior - Address Montana Concerns During Upcoming Tour

Letter

Dear Secretary Jewell:

I warmly welcome you to Montana as you visit the Treasure State this week. I appreciate your willingness to engage with Montanans regarding conservation and sportsmen issues and applaud your interest in the Fort Peck Sioux and Assiniboine Reservation's Rural Water Supply System. I also commend you for visiting the North Fork Watershed in the Flathead. Protecting this watershed is one of my highest priorities, and I'm pleased the House of Representatives recently passed my legislation to finally do so. Each of these issues is integral to the health and quality of life in Montana, and I thank you for your attention to them.

As Montana's voice in the House of Representatives and a member of the House Natural Resources Committee, I would like to take this occasion to highlight additional Montana priorities within the jurisdiction of the Department of Interior. As you are aware, three school districts in Gardiner and West Yellowstone currently face the requirement to repay millions of dollars in federal payments due to an oversight by current and past Administrations. As a product of Gallatin County public schools, I am personally shocked to learn of the federal government's oversight of decades' worth of erroneous payments to schools. I am strongly opposed to forcing these counties to return these payments, because imposing this severe financial burden would make it very difficult for the Yellowstone communities to provide the education our children deserve. I urge you to work with local County and school district leaders to find a swift and mutually acceptable solution.

Additionally, like many Montanans, I was very concerned by your comments in October 2013 related to possible National Monument designations under the Antiquities Act. You observed, "If Congress doesn't step up to act to protect some of these important places that have been identified by communities and people throughout the country, then the President will take action." As you can imagine, these comments have initiated serious concerns for Montanans who recall efforts by DOI in recent years to designate millions of acres of land along the Hi-Line as a National Monument. I would appreciate you clarifying your intentions to designate National Monuments unilaterally and without regard to the will of Congress and local communities.

Equally as important, the potential listing of the Greater Sage Grouse under the Endangered Species Act poses a serious threat to Montana's agriculture, natural resource, and recreation economies across eastern and central Montana. Many Montanans are highly concerned about the Resource Management Plans currently under development by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) which reflects the Administration's efforts to address this issue. In addition, energy developers and other beneficiaries of revenue and products generated from public lands in Montana have expressed concerns about the BLM's initiative regarding mitigation of project impacts. Because these initiatives and others can threaten Montana's economy and way of life, I strongly urge you to receive and accommodate input from local Montanans who rely on our public lands for their livelihoods.

Further, there are several resource development projects under review by the DOI that would restore responsible stewardship in our state, support hundreds of jobs, and generate substantial revenues. Unfortunately, however, many of these projects remain under environmental analysis by DOI and other land management agencies or continue to be delayed due to habitual court challenges. Many Montana counties impacted by these projects suffer from double-digit unemployment and unhealthy land management practices. Accordingly, I implore you to work with local Montanans and Congress to find solutions that streamline approval processes and protect responsible land management decisions from obstructionist tactics.

Finally, besides access to quality water, health care, and education, tribes in Montana are starving for ways to create jobs on their reservation and lift their tribes out of poverty. Responsible natural resource development has the capability to create some of the highest paying jobs in our state. I believe our tribes must have the freedom to develop their natural resources beneath their land if they choose to do so. As the BLM plays a major role in regulating energy development on tribal land, there is often a disincentive to develop resources on tribal land due to excessive permit delays or fees. I urge you to explore ways with Montana tribal leaders to improve access to natural resource development and allow the tribes the sovereignty they deserve.

Madam Secretary, I sincerely appreciate your attention to the numerous Montana priorities that are directly impacted by the decisions of your Department. I look forward to working closely with you to advance the interests of Montana communities and tribes whose livelihoods depend in part on responsible and reasonable federal policies from DOI and other federal agencies. Thank you again for your commitment to Montana.

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