Letter: Read between lines on Tester's jobs bill

Dear Editor,

Montanans should be aware of what’s between the lines in Sen. Jon Tester’s “Forest Jobs and Recreation Act.”

According to a column written by Dave Skinner on Aug. 5 in the Flathead Beacon, environmentalists would see 100,000 acres over a 10-year period be treated under “stewardship” rules. Six hundred seventy thousand acres would be designated as permanent wilderness.

About 260,000 acres will be carved of this wilderness to make multiple use for those of us who don’t want to only hike in. In these acres there will be no new roads, campgrounds or trails. Grazing would be grandfathered in and all mining, geothermal or forestry would be prohibited. Limited mountain biking, snowmobiling and on/off road vehicles would be allowed access, but access to be determined by only one person, either the Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture. If either one gets up on the wrong side of the bedroll, you may not get to unroll yours in a tent.

After living and working in Libby in the 1970s, I soon became aware of the environmentalists’ attitude in the remittance type voices in Troy and up the Yaak. They wanted no mining, no logging, no mill, and wished the people who supported those ideas would leave. I also witnessed Sen. Max Baucus advancing their wishes through his votes. Now Sen. Tester seems to be leaning in the same direction. If you object to this legislation, let him know.

Clare Hafferman, Kalispell