Lewistown News-Argus, 12/21/02

Local group finds widespread support for Breaks monument

Supporters of the Missouri River Breaks National Monument say a recent analysis of comments received by the Bureau of Land Management demonstrates "an overwhelming deep and widespread concern for protecting the publicly owned lands of the monument," said Lewistown's Mary Jones.

Jones is the executive director of the Lewistown-based Friends of the Missouri Breaks National Monument, the group which conducted the recent analysis. An individual from the Friends spent three weeks analyzing all of the roughly 5,700 comments that were sent to the local BLM during this year's socping process, which is the first stage of a multi-year process by the BLM to develop a long-term management plan for the monument.

Monument manager Gary Slagel said the letters are available to the public and he welcomes anyone who is interested to read through them. The BLM plans to release its own scoping report early next year.

The Friends detailed their findings in a press release earlier this week. According to the press release, of the roughly 5,700 comments the BLM received, 467 were from Montanans and 5,379 were form letters or standardized email. The other 319 were unique comments, emails or letters.

Of those unique comments, 76 percent (242) favored preserving the monument to protect its historical and wild character.

The press release went on to say, "Eighty-eight percent of Montanans (411) who contacted the BLM want the monument managed to protect its historical and wild character, while 98 percent (5,602) of the people who wrote from across the country, including all 50 states, want a plan that preserves and protects the monument."

Jones added, "A great majority of the citizens both here in Montana and across the country are stressing the importance of preservation, protection and restoration."