Guest Opinion: Tester jobs bill not serious about jobs

Introducing his first major legislative attempt (S-1470, the Forest Jobs and Recreation Act), Sen. Jon Tester declared “It’s time to get Montanans back to work in the woods.” All Montanans should agree with that.

So, is Sen. Tester’s 84-page bill serious about putting Montana back to work in the woods? Consider what Montana state forester Bob Harrington recently wrote:

“(Since) 2000, the mountain pine beetle has killed an estimated 3 million acres of Montana forests,” 300,000 acres a year and counting. Never mind Montana’s wildfire totals since 2000. It’s so much, we’ve lost track.

In the face of millions of acres of dead and burnt forest, 10,000 acres per year of “stewardship” projects offered by S-1470 is almost irrelevant. Worse, what work goes on also emphasizes removing existing roads. What happens when the next forest is ready for harvest, or to burn, or gets sick?

One must conclude despite all the blather about collaboration and compromise, the bill is egregiously one-sided and short-sighted. It is also very undemocratic, inasmuch as the Bozeman Chronicle calls S-1470 a deal “between the timber industry and wilderness advocates.”

Yep.the public, and their elected officials, simply weren’t invited.

Why did the timber “partners” go along? Well, they’ve already been kicked to their knees by the usual litigation from the usual radicals. The economy has the knife to their throats, and they’re desperate.

From the other side, the “moderate” environmental groups are finally understanding what  the rest of us figured out a long time ago: Killing Montana’s forestry sector is a lousy way to “save” the environment.

If Sen. Tester is truly serious about reaching a forest policy and wilderness compromise that leaves Montanans better off, here’s some suggestions:

First, open the process: Secret deals between wilderniks and timber beasts leave everyone else out. Citizens and groups willing to draft a bill in good faith should be at the table, as must be all affected elected officials or their delegated representatives. However, blatant obstructionists may, and should, be dismissed by formal vote of all at the table.

Next, stay away from court: Parties to the open process above must be enjoined from litigating if they are around for final approval. If they resign or are dismissed as above, they and other non-participants may sue. But litigants must first post bond and will pay costs and damages if they lose a majority of the counts in their case.

Next, equal protection: Any “compromise” between wilderness and multiple-use must have equal protection under the law. Wilderness already gets permanent “protection” when Congress designates it. But multiple uses clearly do not under current law. Language declaring an honestly-arrived-at collaborative plan “legally sufficient” is an absolute must.

Next, “git er done:” The wilderness issue needs final settlement. Congress never intended it to drag along for 45 years. A clear deadline of no longer than two years from talk start to implementation should be set. If no agreement is reached, no wilderness.

Next, no more moving goalposts: Wilderness legislation for Montana or any national forest unit in Montana must contain binding this-and-no-more provisions that honor Congress’s intent when it passed the 1964 Wilderness Act.

Finally, wilderness after, not before: Wilderness management may be implemented immediately, but formal “Wilderness” designation must be contingent on “trigger” points. Both sides must wind up better in the end.

Goals for forestry in terms of acreage, harvest, and reduced wildfire risk should be set; goals for trail, camp and road infrastructure should be enumerated. After a set period of no less than ten or fifteen years, after the non-wilderness objectives have been clearly met and satisfied non-wilderness users have signed off, only then may Congress move forward with formal wilderness designation.

Not before.

(Dave Skinner of Whitefish is a freelance writer emphasizing natural resource policies. He is a member of Montanans for Multiple Use).