• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Digital News Updates
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business

Daines, Rosendale: Cottonwood Decision Hurts Montana Timber Jobs, Forest Management Project

February 11, 2021

U.S. Senator Steve Daines and Congressman Matt Rosendale today sent a letter to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the National Marine Fisheries Service urging the agencies to address the Cottonwood decision that hurts Montana timber jobs and forest management projects in Montana and across the country.

“The proposed rule will allow land managers and wildlife biologists to follow the best-available science for consultation. It will remove an ambiguity in current regulations that have led to more lawsuits than conservation work. This rule is critical to improve the health of Montana’s forest, advance wildlife and restoration projects, reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfires, and support Montana timber jobs. We respectfully urge you to maintain the position of the past two Administrations and finalize this rule,” the letter states.

Read the full letter HERE.

The rulemaking will allow forest managers to return to relying on the best available science for management decisions, not arbitrary requirements set by activist judges. This will help improve the health of Montana’s forests, advance wildlife and restoration projects, reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfires and support Montana timber jobs.

The Cottonwood decision created a new standard for re-consultation on Forest Plans when a species was listed, critical habitat designated, or ‘new information’ was made available, contradicting previous court decisions and crippling Montana’s timber jobs in the process. The U.S. Forest Service under both the Obama and Trump Administrations disagreed with the Cottonwood decision, which has led to dozens of projects delayed or obstructed.

Background:

Last Congress, Senator Daines introduced a bill that would address the challenges stemming from the Cottonwood decision that created a new standard for re-consultation on Forest Plans when ‘new information’ is made available.

In 2017, Senator Daines introduced bipartisan, bicameral legislation to reverse the ruling of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in Cottonwood Environmental Law Center v. U.S. Forest Service.

One of Representative Rosendale’s first statements was in support of the proposed Cottonwood revisions to the Endangered Species Act under the Trump Administration.

PRESS RELEASE PROVIDED BY SENATOR STEVE DAINES

Filed Under: Politics

Related Articles:

  • Armstrong Applauds EPA Proposal to Repeal Biden-Era Power Plant Rules
  • Senator Daines Leads Bipartisan Push to Celebrate “Great Outdoors Month”
  • Here’s how American taxpayers will be impacted if the ‘big, beautiful bill’ fails
  • Zinke Urges Interior Secretary to Act on Projected Low Flathead Lake Levels
  • Sheehy Introduces Legislation to Compensate Service Members Discharged Over COVID Vaccine Mandate
  • Gianforte Praises Supreme Court Ruling

Primary Sidebar

Digital News Updates Logo

Recent News Posts

  • North Dakota to Celebrate Grand Opening of Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library
  • Montana Attorney General Launches Investigation into Lee Enterprises Following Cyberattack
  • VA slams Democrat governor for falsely claiming vets could be denied care
  • Montana State names 2025 presidential scholars

Recent Politics Posts

  • Gianforte Praises Supreme Court Ruling
  • Zinke Urges Interior Secretary to Act on Projected Low Flathead Lake Levels
  • Senator Daines Leads Bipartisan Push to Celebrate “Great Outdoors Month”
  • Sheehy Introduces Legislation to Compensate Service Members Discharged Over COVID Vaccine Mandate

Recent Business Posts

  • Bridger Aerospace Welcomes Executive Order to Reshape Wildland Firefighting
  • Gianforte Appoints Marta Bertoglio as Department of Commerce Director
  • Daktronics to Announce Q4 and Fiscal 2025 Results on June 25
  • Performance Engineering Earns National Honors

Copyright © 2025 Digital News Updates, All Rights Reserved.