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Here is an e-mail I received from Citzens For Balanced Use.It seems like the Forest Service is going to do whatever they want no mater what anyone says even a federal judge.
Dear Mark,
The following is an excerpt from Judge Molloy's ruling on the CBU case against the Forest Service regarding the 2006 GNF Travel Plan.
"IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Forest Service is enjoined from the
continued implementation of the Travel Plan, and this matter is remanded to the
agency for further proceedings consistent with the Montana Wilderness Study Act.
Such proceedings should begin with reference to the Montana Congressional
delegation for action or advice as to the proper resolution of Congress' 1977 stated
intention to resolve which part of the Study Area is wilderness and which is not."
The following statement is from the appeal decision from Region 1 on the Beaverhead Deerlodge National Forest Management Plan.
"Until Congress acts, the law requires the FS to protect wilderness character and allow continuation of uses in place prior to 1977."
The Forest Service in the Gallatin has been ordered by the court to stop implementation of the GNF Travel Plan inside the HPBH WSA and Region 1 has acknowledged that when the WSA was created that all existing uses prior to 1977 would remain.
Last week we received heavy snowfall in the Bozeman area and the Forest Service found themselves scrambling to close additional areas of snowmobiling in the GNF. The Forest Service released an interim map of a small area of the Southwest portion of the HPBH WSA that is shown to close another 13,000 acres or so of the HPBH WSA to snowmobiling and leave a mere 2700 acres of heavily timbered area open out of 155,000 acres. This action flies in the face of the ruling by Judge Molloy and also the congressional intent of the Wilderness Study Act which clearly states that the USES allowed prior to 1977 would remain.
During the comment and appeal process CBU provided the GNF clear evidence of historic use prior to 1977 including pictures, affidavits, documents from Forest Service employees that monitored use in this area along with their log book records and we also presented actual literature printed and distributed by the Forest service in 1969 that advertised the HPBH as open to snowmobiles including the 1969 map. The Forest Service is now stating that they have no way of proving any historic use of the HPBH and their only option, to comply with Judge Molloy's ruling, is to close additional areas of the HPBH.
I have no idea why the Forest service in the Gallatin has engaged in these mis-truths and deception. I have provided the media with the information CBU presented to the Forest Service documenting the historic use of the HPBH and our hope is that the Forest Service will change their direction of additional closures and hidden agendas.
When Judge Molloy released his decision on the CBU litigation, I called the GNF Supervisor's office to schedule a meeting to discuss the ruling and how it would affect the winter use in the Gallatin and try to work with the Forest Service on the plan for this winter. The Supervisor's office informed me that the Supervisor would not have time to meet with CBU for more than a month from the time of my call and I am still waiting for that meeting which is scheduled with her on November 30th.
I take these actions as a complete disregard for the people and the deception from the Forest Service is unacceptable. The new interim map for winter use in the Gallatin is just another blatant example of how the Forest Service will do anything and say anything to close additional roads, trails and areas to multiple use.
Wait until the new summer use plan comes out next spring as the bicycles will find themselves completely locked out of this area because there is no evidence of historic bicycle use in the HPBH WSA prior to 1977. Unless something changes we are on a path of complete closure to recreation in the Gallatin National Forest and many forests just like the Gallatin across the state. Call your congress today and express your thoughts as to these actions by our federal agencies.
Kerry White
Citizens for Balanced Use
1-406-600-4CBU
Dear Mark,
The following is an excerpt from Judge Molloy's ruling on the CBU case against the Forest Service regarding the 2006 GNF Travel Plan.
"IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Forest Service is enjoined from the
continued implementation of the Travel Plan, and this matter is remanded to the
agency for further proceedings consistent with the Montana Wilderness Study Act.
Such proceedings should begin with reference to the Montana Congressional
delegation for action or advice as to the proper resolution of Congress' 1977 stated
intention to resolve which part of the Study Area is wilderness and which is not."
The following statement is from the appeal decision from Region 1 on the Beaverhead Deerlodge National Forest Management Plan.
"Until Congress acts, the law requires the FS to protect wilderness character and allow continuation of uses in place prior to 1977."
The Forest Service in the Gallatin has been ordered by the court to stop implementation of the GNF Travel Plan inside the HPBH WSA and Region 1 has acknowledged that when the WSA was created that all existing uses prior to 1977 would remain.
Last week we received heavy snowfall in the Bozeman area and the Forest Service found themselves scrambling to close additional areas of snowmobiling in the GNF. The Forest Service released an interim map of a small area of the Southwest portion of the HPBH WSA that is shown to close another 13,000 acres or so of the HPBH WSA to snowmobiling and leave a mere 2700 acres of heavily timbered area open out of 155,000 acres. This action flies in the face of the ruling by Judge Molloy and also the congressional intent of the Wilderness Study Act which clearly states that the USES allowed prior to 1977 would remain.
During the comment and appeal process CBU provided the GNF clear evidence of historic use prior to 1977 including pictures, affidavits, documents from Forest Service employees that monitored use in this area along with their log book records and we also presented actual literature printed and distributed by the Forest service in 1969 that advertised the HPBH as open to snowmobiles including the 1969 map. The Forest Service is now stating that they have no way of proving any historic use of the HPBH and their only option, to comply with Judge Molloy's ruling, is to close additional areas of the HPBH.
I have no idea why the Forest service in the Gallatin has engaged in these mis-truths and deception. I have provided the media with the information CBU presented to the Forest Service documenting the historic use of the HPBH and our hope is that the Forest Service will change their direction of additional closures and hidden agendas.
When Judge Molloy released his decision on the CBU litigation, I called the GNF Supervisor's office to schedule a meeting to discuss the ruling and how it would affect the winter use in the Gallatin and try to work with the Forest Service on the plan for this winter. The Supervisor's office informed me that the Supervisor would not have time to meet with CBU for more than a month from the time of my call and I am still waiting for that meeting which is scheduled with her on November 30th.
I take these actions as a complete disregard for the people and the deception from the Forest Service is unacceptable. The new interim map for winter use in the Gallatin is just another blatant example of how the Forest Service will do anything and say anything to close additional roads, trails and areas to multiple use.
Wait until the new summer use plan comes out next spring as the bicycles will find themselves completely locked out of this area because there is no evidence of historic bicycle use in the HPBH WSA prior to 1977. Unless something changes we are on a path of complete closure to recreation in the Gallatin National Forest and many forests just like the Gallatin across the state. Call your congress today and express your thoughts as to these actions by our federal agencies.
Kerry White
Citizens for Balanced Use
1-406-600-4CBU
