Bambistew
Well-known member
The Partnership is welcoming news from the Department of Interior (DOI) regarding one of our top policy priorities. Tuesday in Billings, Montana, Assistant Interior Secretary for Land and Minerals Rebecca Watson announced DOI would indefinitely stop work that could have led to oil and gas development in the Blackleaf area along the Rocky Mountain Front. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Director Steve Williams announced a new effort to establish an easement program to conserve wildlife on private land in the area.
Watson's announcement in particular responds directly to concerns the TRCP and its partner organizations have expressed about several unique sections of public land in the western United States that have been under consideration for oil and gas development. The Rocky Mountain Front holds a very special place in the hearts of American hunters and anglers, whether they live near it or not. Commonly referred to as "America's Serengeti," the region is inhabited by incredibly rich and diverse fish and wildlife populations. To travel there is the lifelong dream of many American sportsmen and women.
Leaders from various hunting, fishing and conservation organizations working together through the TRCP consistently have stated that there are certain areas, like the Rocky Mountain Front, that are so pristine and so valuable as fish and wildlife habitat, that they should not be opened for drilling.
The TRCP's energy development working group has also made it clear that sportsmen's groups are not opposed to developing energy on public land in the west – they simply want to ensure that exploration and extraction is done with a minimal impact on fish and wildlife. There is consensus among government officials, conservation groups and energy industry representatives that this is possible – the TRCP and its partners stand ready to offer guidance on how to achieve this.
TRCP Chairman Jim Range today said "the Rocky Mountain Front in Montana is one of several special places that should not be drilled. Today's announcement was absolutely the right call. We look forward to continuing to engage with Interior officials about other ways we can make sure energy development on public land is done the right way, in the right places."
The Partnership looks forward to working towards positive conservation outcomes similar to today's announcement, for other areas of the American West that already are being drilled or are under consideration for energy development. Apart from setting aside unique and important areas as was done today, the TRCP, led by partner organizations including Boone and Crockett, Trout Unlimited, the International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, and North American Grouse Partnership, the Izaak Walton League of America and the American Sportfishing Association have discussed energy leasing policy ideas with DOI officials, including:
Affirming more balanced multiple use management of federal lands in leasing decisions
Conducting more thorough analysis of potential development impacts on fish and wildlife
Taking a more conservative approach to leasing
Maintaining more federal control and management flexibility of leased land
Revisiting leases issued without sufficient data
Evaluating impacts of decisions to waive protective permit conditions
Ensuring adequate financial resources for reclamation
Increasing federal and state agency resources for evaluation of lease and permit applications
Apart from driving towards more fish and wildlife-friendly energy development on public land, the TRCP and its partner organizations this year also have been focusing on improving and strengthening one of the best conservation tools available to us today: conservation easements. USFWS Director Williams' announcement today regarding a new plan encouraging private land easements in the Blackleaf area highlights how important it is to make sure easement tax incentives remain an attractive option to private landowners.
To learn more about all of the conservation initiatives the TRCP and its Partner Organizations are currently addressing
click here
Watson's announcement in particular responds directly to concerns the TRCP and its partner organizations have expressed about several unique sections of public land in the western United States that have been under consideration for oil and gas development. The Rocky Mountain Front holds a very special place in the hearts of American hunters and anglers, whether they live near it or not. Commonly referred to as "America's Serengeti," the region is inhabited by incredibly rich and diverse fish and wildlife populations. To travel there is the lifelong dream of many American sportsmen and women.
Leaders from various hunting, fishing and conservation organizations working together through the TRCP consistently have stated that there are certain areas, like the Rocky Mountain Front, that are so pristine and so valuable as fish and wildlife habitat, that they should not be opened for drilling.
The TRCP's energy development working group has also made it clear that sportsmen's groups are not opposed to developing energy on public land in the west – they simply want to ensure that exploration and extraction is done with a minimal impact on fish and wildlife. There is consensus among government officials, conservation groups and energy industry representatives that this is possible – the TRCP and its partners stand ready to offer guidance on how to achieve this.
TRCP Chairman Jim Range today said "the Rocky Mountain Front in Montana is one of several special places that should not be drilled. Today's announcement was absolutely the right call. We look forward to continuing to engage with Interior officials about other ways we can make sure energy development on public land is done the right way, in the right places."
The Partnership looks forward to working towards positive conservation outcomes similar to today's announcement, for other areas of the American West that already are being drilled or are under consideration for energy development. Apart from setting aside unique and important areas as was done today, the TRCP, led by partner organizations including Boone and Crockett, Trout Unlimited, the International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, and North American Grouse Partnership, the Izaak Walton League of America and the American Sportfishing Association have discussed energy leasing policy ideas with DOI officials, including:
Affirming more balanced multiple use management of federal lands in leasing decisions
Conducting more thorough analysis of potential development impacts on fish and wildlife
Taking a more conservative approach to leasing
Maintaining more federal control and management flexibility of leased land
Revisiting leases issued without sufficient data
Evaluating impacts of decisions to waive protective permit conditions
Ensuring adequate financial resources for reclamation
Increasing federal and state agency resources for evaluation of lease and permit applications
Apart from driving towards more fish and wildlife-friendly energy development on public land, the TRCP and its partner organizations this year also have been focusing on improving and strengthening one of the best conservation tools available to us today: conservation easements. USFWS Director Williams' announcement today regarding a new plan encouraging private land easements in the Blackleaf area highlights how important it is to make sure easement tax incentives remain an attractive option to private landowners.
To learn more about all of the conservation initiatives the TRCP and its Partner Organizations are currently addressing
click here
