Conservation Issues

From time-to-time the Conservation Committee considers conservation issues associated with public policy and communicates their concerns and recommendations to the appropriate agencies or officials. Here are links to copies of letters sent over the years on these issues.

MNPS Concerns with 2021 MT Legislature HB 418 regarding Public Land Access

Whitebark Pine listing letter USFWS Jan 2021

McKamy mine letter 2020

Line Creek RNA comment letter 20200922

MNPS Comments on ESA rule change 20200921 Please note that this comment was originally submitted as an email as linked. When no confirmation was received, the comment was reformatted as a letter linked here:  Comments on ESA rule change as letter

MNPS Comments- Missoula BLM RMP

Lewistown RMP-MNPS comments

Cust-Gall Forest Plan Comments May 2019

Comments on Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest Plan Draft EIS 2 October 2018

Comments on Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest Plan Revision – July 2017

Final Comments on Flathead Forest Plan Revision – September 2016

Letter on Flathead Forest Plan Revision – April 2015

Letter to Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks regarding distinguishing between native prairie management east and west of the continental divide and for including species of concern explicitely in the plan being developed.

Jan 2014 letter to Sen. Baucus encouraging measures to incent protection of native sod and wetland areas in relation to farm decisions

Comment on BLM Miles City Field Office Draft Resource Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement dated 9 May 2013

Comment on BLM Billings Field Office Draft Resource Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement dated 30 May 2013

Joint letter from the Montana, Arizona, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, and Utah Native Plant Societies to the USDA Agricultural Research Service expressing concern with the introduction of non native plant species in the Western United States dated 1 August 2013

Concern with Secor Grass seed sales by CENEX 26 Nov 2010

Letter to APHIS on Q-37 6 Oct 2009

State HCP comment re Howellia 8 Sep 2009

Methane EIS Supplement 12 Mar 2007

Petition to Place Russian Olive on Montana Noxious Weeds List (pdf), 2008

Comments to the BLM on the Missouri Breaks Management Plan (pdf), 2006

Letter to EPA supporting a strong Endangered Species Act (pdf), 2006

Proceedings of the 4th Montana Plant Conservation Conference (pdf), Feb 28-March 1, 2006, Helena, MT

Letter to Custer National Forest (2005) Wild horse trespass on research natural area on Custer National Forest (pdf)

Letter re: Plum Creek Lands (2005) Congressional appropriations to acquire Plum Creek lands in the Swan Valley (pdf)

Letter re: Forest Service (2004) A letter recommending that road building be limited because roads facilitate invasion by noxious weeds (pdf)

Letter re:NRCS Conservation Security 2004 Effect of NRCS Conservation Security Program on Great Plains prairie conservation (pdf)

Letter re:NRCS Herbicide (2004) Should NRCS fund herbicide application through their Environmental Quality Incentives Program (pdf)

Letter re:Weed Plan Comments (2004) Comments on the proposed revisions to the Montana Weed Management Plan (pdf)

Letter to Department of Natural Resources (2004) re: Firewise Landscaping brochure and invasive species. (pdf)

Letter re: Forest Service Rules 2003 Proposed changes to rules mandating protection of biological diversity on national forest lands (pdf)