Public Lands at Risk

[Nemont]

For those of us who enjoy hunting and recreating on Public Lands in the west there is a bill before the house that puts that in jeopardy. Contact your House Representative ASAP and voice your opposition to this idea.

Bill could put land up for sale
By MARY CLARE JALONICK - Associated Press Writer - 11/16/05
WASHINGTON — Montana Rep. Denny Rehberg is opposing a proposed change in a mining law, tucked into a House bill, that could aid the sale of thousands of acres of public land in Montana and Wyoming, a spokesman for the Republican said Tuesday.

But that might not prevent Rehberg from supporting the overall bill, said Erik Iverson, Rehberg’s chief of staff.

The provision, part of a pending House bill that would cut federal spending, would overturn a decade-old congressional ban that prevents mineral companies from ‘‘patenting,’’ or buying, public land at cheap prices if the land contains mineral deposits.

The Washington-based Environmental Working Group has said nearly 246,000 acres would be eligible for sale in Montana and nearly 354,000 acres would be available in Wyoming.

In order to generate revenue, some House Republicans want to lift the ban, which prevents anyone from applying for a new patent. Once a patent is granted, companies would buy the land for $1000 per acre.

The provision would help the mining industry and, in turn, boost local economies, supporters have said.

Democrats and environmental groups say they oppose the provision because companies could easily sell the lands as real estate. Montana Sen. Max Baucus, a Democrat, said Tuesday the provision is ‘‘an unprecedented assault on public lands in Montana.’’

The bill could ‘‘put golf courses and strip malls on prime public hunting and fishing lands across the state,’’ Baucus said.

Rehberg’s opposition to the proposal comes after the state Democratic party and his opponent in the 2006 elections, Democratic state Rep. Monica Lindeen, criticized the provision.

Iverson said Tuesday there are ‘‘just too many unanswered questions at this point.’’

‘‘He won’t do anything that would jeopardize hunting and fishing in Montana,’’ Iverson said.

However, Iverson said Rehberg has not made a decision on the overall bill because a final version has not yet come to the floor. The House delayed a vote on the budget legislation last week when Republicans failed to get enough supporters.

A spokesman for Rep. Barbara Cubin, R-Wyo., said the Environmental Working Group’s analysis is exaggerated and that Cubin has not yet decided if she will support the budget bill.

 

[1_pointer]

Surely this can't pass.... :BLEEP:

The reference I got was that it is from Pombo in CA. Don't know him, but with this bill he has to pretty pro-development.