Dear public land owners,
The Forest Service is taking public comments on the East Saddle Integrated Restoration Project. The “forest health” proposal would cut and/or burn approximately 8,600-acres in three different roadless areas in the N. Fork Clearwater drainage: Moose Mountain, Weitas Creek and Kelly Creek. The project also calls for commercial logging of over 400-acres just outside the areas. Cayuse Creek could also be impacted, which delivers some of the coldest and cleanest water to the N. Fork, and provides crucial habitat for Westslope-cutthroat and bull trout. Comment deadline is June 12. Click here to take action.
Congressman Tom McClintock (R-CA) has introduced H.R. 1349, which would amend the Wilderness Act to allow bicycles, game carts and other mechanized devices in federally designated Wilderness. Rep. McClintock is no friend of public lands, and has a very poor lifetime conservation voting record, according to the League of Conservation Voters. He is also a member of the House Natural Resources Committee and chair of the public lands subcommittee, meaning he is in a significant position of leadership. As a result, this bill could advance in the House. Contact your member of Congress today and tell them to oppose H.R. 1349. Read our action alert here.
In other legislative news, the Northern Rockies Ecosystem Protection Act (NREPA) has been introduced in the House and Senate. It would designate the remaining roadless wildlands in the northern Rockies Bioregion as Wilderness, protect important headwaters and rivers that provide drinking water for millions of people, create a series of biological connecting corridors to aid species dispersal, while also restoring areas degraded by excessive road building and resource extraction. Contact your Senator and tell them to support S. 936. Contact your member of Congress and tell them to support H.R. 2135.
Congressman Peter DeFazio (D-OR) has introduced the Chemical Poisons Reduction Act of 2017, which would ban the use of the lethal poisons Compound 1080 and sodium cyanide (M-44) for predator control efforts. The federal government’s Wildlife Services recently agreed to temporarily halt the use of M-44 cyanide bombs in the state of Idaho. Please contact your Congressman or woman and tell them to support H.R. 1817.
And circle your calendars for the FOC Summer Benefit Concert with Smokin’ Mojo on Saturday July 8!
Sincerely,
Brett Haverstick
Education & Outreach Director