PUBLIC LANDS: Daines introduces bill to improve recreational access
Phil Taylor, E&E reporter
E&E: Friday, January 31, 2014
Rep. Steve Daines (R-Mont.) yesterday introduced a bill to devote more money to opening federal lands to sportsmen and other public lands users.
Daines, who is running for the Senate seat being vacated by Max Baucus (D), said the bill would increase opportunities for Montanans to enjoy hunting, fishing and outdoor recreation.
His H.R. 3962, which mirrors a companion measure by Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.), would ensure at least 1.5 percent or $10 million -- whichever is greater -- in Land and Water Conservation Fund money goes to securing rights of way or acquiring lands that hinder recreational access to public lands.
He said almost 2 million acres of public lands in Montana is currently off limits to the public.
"This is unacceptable," Daines said yesterday in a statement. "There is strong, bipartisan agreement that the Land and Water Conservation Fund can play an important role in increasing access to these lands."
The bill is likely to burnish Daines' standing among sportsmen's groups in the Treasure State, where access to federal lands ranks among groups' highest priorities.
It could also mend some rifts after Daines last month was criticized by 18 sportsmen's groups for sponsoring a logging bill that the groups argued could harm prime hunting and fishing areas in Montana, such as the Gravelly Range, Rocky Mountain Front and Blackfoot River Corridor.
Groups including the Montana Wildlife Federation, Montana Trout Unlimited, and Backcountry Hunters and Anglers of Montana, as well as the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, a national group with operations in Montana, took Daines to task for co-sponsoring H.R. 1526, which would double logging levels on national forests (E&E Daily, Dec. 11, 2013).
Daines said he introduced the land access bill weeks after meeting with Montana sportsmen and representatives from Ducks Unlimited, the Mule Deer Foundation, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Pheasants Forever, Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, and the Boone and Crockett Club.
His introduction of H.R. 3962 is good politics in Montana, where sportsmen's issues -- particularly access to Montana's 25 million acres of national forest and BLM lands and seven federal wildlife refuges -- will likely factor in the 2014 Senate race.
The sportsmen's groups Daines met with issued statements of praise yesterday at the introduction of his bill.
"Many hunters and anglers across the nation -- and especially in Montana -- make public lands their destination for outdoor recreation," said Bob Sanders, who manages conservation programs for Ducks Unlimited in Montana. "It's extremely important that sportsmen and women are able to hunt, fish and enjoy other recreation on federal public lands and we are excited Congressman Daines has taken action."
