COMING SOON
Airstrips in the Monument?
"Existing Valid Uses" - cattle grazing, hunting and fishing, and natural gas extraction are "grandfathered" in -- multi-use as always or should the BLM change the way they manage the Monument?
Private property inholdings -- does the designation make a real difference? Download our factsheet on Private Property and the Monument.
The facts about Rep. Rehberg's H.R. 1629.
Roads, ways, and two-tracks -- Is off-road motorized access okay?
KEEP INFORMED AND INVOLVED. WRITE TO US AND WE'LL PUT YOU ON OUR MONUMENT SUPPORTERS LIST TO RECEIVE UPDATES AND ALERTS: info@missouribreaks.org.
Issues & Projects
CITIZEN INPUT CRUCIAL FOR RMP PLANNING PROCESS
Resource Management Planning: This summer, 2004, the Friends is gearing up and ready to tackle the next crucial phase -- the finalizing of draft alternatives that will be presented to the public in a draft resource management plan. This plan will guide the proper management of the Monument for 15-20 years. Visit this page to find out how you can help the BLM prepare a plan to ensure long-term preservation of the monument.
Please visit our new Lewis and Clark in the Upper Missouri River Breaks page! The Friends of the Missouri Breaks Monument is fortunate to have Stephenie Ambrose Tubbs (daughter of the late historian/author Stephen Ambrose) serving on its Advisory Board. Stephenie has contributed great ideas and put the Friends in touch with the nationwide community of Lewis and Clark scholars and authors. With the Bicentennial right around the corner, the Friends is keeping abreast of issues and activities that pertain to the Monument's historical values.
A wonderful Dayton Duncan and Ken Burns Opinion piece ran in the Billings Gazette on September 30, 2003: Save 'scenes of visionary enchantment'.
Download a factsheet on Lewis and Clark in the Upper Missouri River Breaks.
Visit the new DiscoverNLCS website and find out what the National Landscape Conservation System is all about!
During the 2003 session of Congress, Rep. Denny Rehberg reintroduced his "boundary clarification" bill as H.R. 1629. On September 30, 2003, Hugo Tureck testified before the House Subcommittee on National Parks, Recreation, and Public Lands to oppose the bill. To read Hugo's testimony, visit our "Rehberg Bill" page. You can also download our new fact sheet and read current editorials and articles regarding the proposed legislation.
The Durbin Amendment: On July 11, 2001, the Senate turned down a motion by Sen. Conrad Burns (R-MT) to table the Durbin amendment to the Interior Appropriations bill on a 42-57 vote. The Senate subsequently agreed to the Durbin amendment to ban oil, gas, coal and geothermal leasing on national monuments.
The Rahall Amendment: On June 21, the U.S. House of Representatives approved (242 to 173) an amendment by Rep. Nick J. Rahall II (D-W.Va.) that would prevent funds in the appropriations bill from being expended to conduct preleasing, leasing and related activities under either the Mineral Leasing Act or the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act within the boundaries of a National Monument. It would prohibit new energy exploration in National Monuments beyond that already allowed. Forty-seven Republicans voted in favor of the proposal.
Antiquities Act under attack. Read a fact sheet that was circulated on Capitol Hill to counter legislation that would have weakened the Antiquities Act. The bill was tabled in 2002.
Lewistown City Commission passes Resolution in support of Monument.
Governor Judy Martz appoints Monument Task Force -- calls for reduction in Monument acreage.
Copyright © 2001-2004 Friends of the Missouri Breaks Monument.
LEWIS AND CLARK BICENTENNIAL -- HOW WILL IT AFFECT THE MONUMENT?
NATIONAL MONUMENTS ACROSS THE NATION
NEW OIL AND GAS LEASES IN THE MONUMENT? CONSERVATION BEFORE DEVELOPMENT! Scoping comments were due December 15 for Oil/Gas Leases EIS. To learn more about this issue and read the Friends' scoping comments to the BLM, go to our Gas Lease EIS page.
CONGRESSIONAL ACTIONS -- GOOD AND BAD
STATE AND LOCAL ACTIONS -- BAD AND GOOD
FRIENDS OF THE
MISSOURI BREAKS MONUMENT
224 W. Main, Suite 202
Lewistown, MT 59457
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