By Tim Ravndal
It is a fact that there are many forests across Montana that are in dire condition that has resulted in some areas uninhabitable. Without an expedient process to facilitate the harvesting of timber the resources violate federal law by going to waste. The courts are being manipulated by attorneys collecting huge payments to challenge every timber sale.
In the courts across Montana and the West it has been a problem getting due process and a fair seat at the table by those in the timber industry. Outgunned and outspent eco~extremists are being funded through environmental groups that purport to be here to conserve the nations natural resources. The practice falls short on defining conservation in the true meaning of the word.
Eco~extremism is founded in total shutdown in the Timber Industry, Mining Industry and Cattle Industry. There is no acceptable level of conservation among these groups as the funding is only available to enhance total shutdown of the natural resource industries.
Federal Court Rules Against Eco~Extremism
Twas the week before Christmas 2020 throughout the forest not chainsaw or skidder could be heard on the mountain. Green decoy groups have locked up three timber sales in Montana. Now comes the big bad federal judge dismissing the eco~extremists legal challenge against the Forest Service and these projects.
It is rare that a federal judge shows courage and places a legal stop to the continuous attacks by eco~extremists. U.S. District Court Judge Brian Morris dismissed Cottonwood Environmental Law Center’s lawsuit over the three logging projects that were challenged on frivolous points of law.
There is a full disregard to the history and the future of timber resources and the benefit live timber has on the environment by these groups. The eco~extremist industry look at a pay to cry program that is founded in the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Under this federal law, the concept of complaining about natural resource development buries common sense. Using fear tactics is not uncommon in today’s society. The eco~extremists continue to be self-perpetuating with tax dollar funding from We The People.
The three sales that have been working their way through the system are a prime example of the extortion tactics crashing the timber industry. The utilization of the public land resources is going to waste awaiting a legal decision from the court jesters. These National Forest Management proposals began in 2011, 2017 and 2018.
The Bozeman Municipal Watershed project began going through the process in 2011 and has been under legal review ever since. Need to protect a watershed from devastation from fire and waste caused by timber disease has been halted rendering a huge part of those resources nothing but waste. All commercial value has been extremely reduced or rendered completely uneconomically fit for use.
The North Bridgers Forest Health project again treating forest beetle kill timber to protect resources including wildlife has been tied up since 2018 with technical challenges by the eco~extremist group through the abuse of NEPA.
The third project up by Hebgen Lake is a prime example of the thrust by eco~extremists using NEPA to tie up forest management to facilitate the expansion of Yellowstone Park. Multiple groups are on a quest to prohibit any and all logging in Montana. Alliance for the Wild Rockies and the Native Ecosystems Council purports to support conservation but preservation is more in tune with their mission. These two groups are on the front lines of eco~extremisim. Those that have been in the natural resource industries are fully aware that these groups are on a quest to control all natural resources in America from development.
Two of the timber sale complaints were founded under an opinion regarding the need to consider an undefined concept of “Climate Change.” Giving the legal challenge using outdated forest management policy is claimed in the case. The challenge was originally accepted by the court rendering forest management moot for many years.
The Forest Service is now in the process of awarding contracts to timber companies for the projects, with hopes that in 2021, timber will be processed for beneficial use.
The people will see log trucks coming and going through Bozeman that will spark even more anguish among the eco~extremists due to road closures preventing them from driving to their favorite hiking only trails. There will be some prescribed fire as well that will be controversial in modern forest management.
Ry Timber in Livingston and Sun Mountain Lumber in Deer Lodge are the last two commercial lumber manufactures left in the region. With infrastructure continuing to be starved out of resource capital the future is still dim to properly manage natural resources in Montana.
Alliance for the Wild Rockies and the Native Ecosystems Council are the two leading eco~extremist groups that have been on the front lines of natural resource management obstruction for years. Without political courage the need to revise Tort laws continues to fall on deaf ears. The ability to inflict damage to natural resources and the industry will continue on public lands using fear to justify these claims.
The eco~extremism groups plan to appeal the decision here in Montana to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. The eco~extremism history and judicial activism by that court is troubling for everyone in the natural resource industries. Many are demanding that Congress puts an end to this!