House passes North Fork bill with bipartisan support

In an historic vote that marked first time either chamber of Congress passed legislation protecting the North Fork of the Flathead River watershed, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the North Fork Watershed Protection Act of 2013 on March 4.

During the March 4 floor debate on H.R. 2259, Rep. Steve Daines discussed the history of locally driven efforts to protect the North Fork, citing the leading role of former Montana Sen. Max Baucus in the effort.

“Sen. Max Baucus began work to protect this watershed and river since his very first year in Congress — in 1974, when he was Montana’s Congressman in the House,” Daines said. “I’m proud to be part of the effort to get it done and across the finish line.”

The 2013 Act is comparable to legislation previously introduced by Baucus and Sen. Jon Tester and seeks to protect the North Fork watershed by restricting new mineral development from occurring within an area along North Fork.

“The North Fork Watershed Protection Act represents common sense resource management — the kind of common sense that Montanans understand and Washington needs more of,” Daines said. “We all support protecting this area for future generations — making this bill the first lands legislation supported by the entire Montana delegation in nearly 30 years.”

Daines called passage of the Act with strong bipartisan support “a major step towards a common sense goal that Montanans have worked toward together for decades.”

The Act passed out of House Natural Resources Committee by unanimous consent in January, and its Senate counterpart, S. 255, was passed by the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee last year by a voice vote.

“It’s time we get this done,” he said.

The Act is supported by a unique diverse group of stakeholders, including ConocoPhillips, Chevron, The Nature Conservancy, the Chambers of Commerce, sportsmen groups and local businesses.

“Balancing the needs for stewardship management and conservation has been an essential part of our 100 years of success as a company,” said Paul McKenzie, F.H. Stoltze Land & Lumber Co.’s lands and resource manager. “H.R. 2259 is fully consistent with this balance that has ensured our long term success and the Montana way of life. H.R. 2259 is an essential step in the stewardship of the natural resources on federal lands in the North Fork Valley.”

That sentiment was echoed by the Montana Logging Association.

“Introduction of H.R. 2259 shows Congressman Daines is committed to pursuing solutions supported by a diverse coalition of local leaders of the Flathead Valley and also ensures forest management activities in the Valley are not inhibited by his bill,” said MLA executive director Keith Olson. “His support for H.R. 2259 lends a helpful boost to protecting the North Fork of the Flathead Valley. I applaud his commitment to forest stewardship and his advocacy for responsible resource management.”