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18 Wednesday, January 13, 2016 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon Best way to manage public land? By Keith Ridler Associated Press BOISE, Idaho (AP) — An armed group occupying the headquarters of a national wildlife refuge in Oregon wants the federal govern- ment to relinquish about 300 square miles to local control so it can be opened up for ranching, mining, logging and other uses. Birders covet the same land for its many migrat- ing species that use refuge marshland as a key rest- ing place. Anglers, hunters and wildlife watchers also are drawn to the high desert terrain. The competition between the different interests is emblematic of a much larger struggle in the West, playing out in federal courts, state legislatures and Congress. At its core, the dispute comes down to personal val- ues: Recreationists’ and envi- ronmentalists’ views on open spaces clash with traditional uses that have sustained rural communities for generations. What’s at stake: About a million square miles of public land managed by the federal government, mostly in the West, accord- ing to the Congressional Research Service. What do business interests say? Many of those who depend on the land for their livelihood argue that wildlife holds more weight than peo- ple. They sometimes frame their outlook in patriotic or religious terms and say federal land managers who impose limits are shutting down lumber mills, cutting off cattle grazing, preventing mining and destroying a way of life in the rural West. They say that could be solved by turning public lands over to locals who would be better caretakers than far-off bureaucrats. They do have some pro- tections, including an 1872 mining law that still offers miners low-cost access to federal land. What do environmental- ists say? Many environmental groups say mining, logging and ranching have run rough- shod for decades on public land and left a legacy of pol- lution for taxpayers to clean up. They say the industries have wiped out old-growth forests and overgrazed land- scapes made vulnerable to invasive species. Conservationists accuse federal officials of allow- ing the practices that have scarred the West and fail- ing to enforce laws. The most widely recognized is the Endangered Species Act, famously used to limit log- ging in the Pacific Northwest to protect forests that are home to spotted owls and marbled murrelets. What do outdoor enthusi- asts say? The open spaces of the West have miles of streams to fish, trails to hike, mountains to climb and areas to traverse on snowmobiles. Among rec- reationists’ biggest fears is being shut out. In northern Idaho, resi- dents so far have torpedoed a proposed land swap between a timber company and the U.S. Forest Service over con- cerns about losing access to part of a national forest. What does the govern- ment say? U.S. agencies manage most of the public land and try to balance the different interests, but they frequently become lightning rods, with their decisions challenged in court. Employees of the Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Fish and Wildlife Service, and National Park Service tend to have an affinity for open spaces and a belief in public service, said John Freemuth, a Boise State University professor and public lands expert. Who’s the heavyweight? Congress. U.S. lawmakers could turn over federal lands to local control, but state efforts so far have failed. A strategy has emerged in recent years in which mem- bers of Congress slip land- use amendments into critical budget bills. For example, U.S. Rep. Mike Simpson, R-Idaho, and U.S. Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, attached a so-called rider in 2011 that stripped federal protec- tions for gray wolves in their states. As a result, environmental groups have become increas- ingly watchful. But their push to weaken the 1872 mining law has failed, as have indus- try efforts to weaken the Endangered Species Act. Is compromise possible? Yes. After more than a decade of effort, Simpson this summer shepherded through Congress a compromise bill that created a 430-square- mile federal wilderness in some of central Idaho’s most pristine country. It limits development in some areas but opens it up in others. It got help passing after President Barack Obama sig- naled that the area would be designated a national monu- ment if the bill stalled. In another compromise, federal land critics and ranchers supported an order by Interior Secretary Sally Jewell last year that aimed to stop wildfires. Republican Idaho Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter, a critic of federal land policy, has praised the order. So have ranchers, who partnered with federal firefighters in a plan to respond quickly to blazes. Happy days for snowmen... photo by conrad WEilEr Snowmen have a reason to smile as the snowpack climbs above “normal” in Sisters Country. Money Saving coupons can be printed anytime at NuggetNews.com! Hope for a child. Change for a nation. The Nugget’s $37 a month. All the difference in the world. Sponsor a Ugandan child with a local organization at HopeAfricaKids.com This ad sponsored by The Nugget Newspaper. Sisters Saver Look for it the last week of every month in The Nugget. To advertise call 541-549-9941.
