Billings Gazette Opinion - 8/30/01
Opinion: Monument will benefit Breaks area

"Missouri Breaks National Monument" would merely be a new name for the Upper Missouri Wild and Scenic River if Gov. Judy Martz's task force has its way with this vast track of public land.

We are disappointed in the task force's recommendation to do away with all of the monument's 377,000 acres of federal lands, except for the 90,000 acres that were included in the wild and scenic river designation 25 years ago. Disappointed, but not shocked. Martz has made her opposition to the monument clear. She appointed a task force that confirmed her conclusion in a matter of weeks.

In fact, it was barely five weeks from the day, July 13, when Martz announced the creation of the task force and invited Montanans to write the panel with their views on the monument. Around 1,700 written comments poured in and they ran 2-1 in FAVOR of the monument designation, according to the Associated Press.

On Aug. 15, the task force voted to recommend that the 287,000 acres of public land be removed from the monument. On Aug. 21, the council "finalized" that decision. Martz is expected to consider her task force's recommendation in making recommendations to Interior Secretary Gale Norton within the next few days.

Martz opposition

The governor's opposition continues despite growing support for the Missouri Breaks Monument. Hundreds of Montanans expressed their support for the monument in the two-year, public review process conducted before President Clinton declared the monument on public land. Hundreds of Montanans reiterated their monument support to the governor's task force.

Martz should take a look at the facts of the monument designation: It only covers federal lands. Private lands within the monument boundaries aren't governed by monument management.

Public lands

Furthermore, we question whether the drastic step of paring hundreds of thousands of acres of public land from the national monument is within the plans or power of the Interior Department. Back in March, when Norton wrote to Martz and other governors whose states are home to new monuments, the secretary asked for help in "developing land use plans for these monuments." She didn't ask which monuments to dissolve. And Norton recently told the Western Governors Association that the administration is "not planning to rescind any of the monuments."

With the bicentennial of the Lewis and Clark expedition coming, now is the time to capitalize on interest in Montana's breathtaking river country. Central Montana will benefit from a monument that recognizes the unique landscapes first described by the Corps of Discovery.

Instead of arguing about boundaries, Montana leaders should get to work on lobbying Norton and our congressional delegation for the resources needed to manage this land and the throngs of visitors who will follow the route of Lewis and Clark.