Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Public Lands and Natural ResourcesEnvironmental assessment, monitoring, researchLand use and conservationMontanaWilderness and natural areas, wildlife refuges, wild rivers, habitats
Why This Matters
This bill removes three Montana areas from wilderness study area status and directs how they will be managed under existing public land plans.
Who this affects
public land in Montana · federal agencies · people using lands
What changes is this bill making?
1Removes the Middle Fork Judith area (about 81,000 acres) in Montana from its wilderness study area status under the Montana Wilderness Study Act of 1977.
2Removes the Hoodoo Mountain (about 11,380 acres) and Wales Creek (about 11,580 acres) areas in Montana from their wilderness study area status under FLPMA (Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976).
3Directs that these lands be managed under existing national forest and public land management plans.
4Requires continued management following environmental laws and principles that allow multiple uses such as recreation, wildlife habitat projects, and wildfire mitigation.
