Southwest Montana News

Today, Congressman Matt Rosendale’s Forest Information Reform (FIR) Act passed the House Committee on Natural Resources as part of Chairman Bruce Westerman’s Fix Our Forests Act. The FIR Act addresses the United States Forest Service v. Cottonwood Environmental Law Center decision, which created a burdensome regulatory process for building infrastructure and initiating resource management projects on federal lands. The legislation aims to amend federal requirements to exempt the U.S. Forest Service from re-consulting with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on new Endangered Species Act information, thereby reducing delays.

"After eight years of increasingly severe wildfires and preventable habitat destruction in Montana due to the Cottonwood decision, the Treasure State is finally one step closer to being able to manage our own land," said Rep. Rosendale. "The FIR Act reverses the disastrous Cottonwood decision and ends the perpetual litigation that prohibits proper forest supervision. I appreciate Chairman Westerman’s continued leadership and support on this issue of vital importance to the people of Montana."