http://helenair.com/news/opinion/halting-public-land-sales-studying-land-transfer-next-step-for/article_6dc84743-2373-577f-82fa-fb30a36ba82f.html

Halting public land sales, studying land transfer next step for Montana

Thanks to passage of Senate Joint Resolution 15 last session, the Legislature conducted an intensive interim study of the problems with federal land management. I sponsored the 2013 legislation and chaired the 2013-14 study, both of which passed out of committee with broad bi-partisan support.

The information compiled into the SJ15 report is undeniable. The federal model of land management is failing Montana. Access is decreasing, catastrophic wildfire conditions are escalating, our environment is suffering, and economic productivity has sadly slipped to an all-time low.

States all across the west are feeling the same acute pains. Reforms in Congress have been attempted by hundreds, by thousands and by millions… for decades.

Presently there are a number of efforts at the local, state and national level aimed at trying to provide relief to communities, halt wasteful degradation of our resources, and stimulate more responsible management on our federally controlled public lands. I and many other legislators are working on a variety of bills to effect immediate improvements.

In addition to those efforts, serious deliberations are underway in about 20 states with interest in transferring control of federal public lands to willing states. ......