Central Montana Times

U.S. Senator Steve Daines expressed approval following the U.S. Forest Service's decision to withdraw the National Old Growth Amendment draft environmental impact statement.

In his statement, Daines emphasized the concerns of Montanans regarding forest management and wildfire risks. "Montanans are sick of breathing in smoke and the Forest Service heard their concerns loud and clear," he stated. He described the withdrawal as "a victory for commonsense local management of our forests."

Daines criticized the proposed amendment, arguing it would have imposed unnecessary guidelines on local forests, potentially hindering essential management work and increasing wildfire risks. He asserted that Montana's old growth forests are already protected by individual Forest Plans, suggesting that the proposal could have delayed efforts to safeguard these areas from wildfires.

The senator has been vocal about his opposition to this proposal since its announcement, advocating for more localized control over forest management practices.