Leadership needed on timber policy

The recent news of the Weyerhaeuser mill closures in Columbia Falls sent shockwaves across the state. For the Flathead Valley and our state’s struggling timber industry, it’s another 100 good paying jobs lost. For the community of Columbia Falls, the mill closures mean the loss of two mills that have been staples of the community for decades.

Unfortunately, this is a tale that played out all too often across Western Montana. Communities that have historically thrived on the timber trade have watched mills close and jobs go away. Everywhere the explanation is the same: There just is not enough supply of logs to feed the mills.

In the wake of Weyerhaeuser’s announcement, one local timber executive expressed the frustration of those in Western Montana who fight to keep the timber industry alive: “what’s most frustrating is that we are surrounded by trees. They are everywhere.” Unfortunately, fringe environmental groups empowered by the federal Equal Access to Justice Act have nearly succeeded in closing our forests to timber management.

And managing our forests is about more than just helping the timber industry. When we manage our forests responsibly, we have healthier forests, fewer fires, and more wildlife. Good management is good environmental stewardship.

Ultimately, we need litigation reform and federal land management reform. However, we need leadership in this state that will use every available tool to defend Montana’s interests and get more timber flowing to Montana’s mills. The governor of Montana has two very important and simple tools that he can use, but has failed to use, on this issue.

In 2015, the Legislature appropriated $5 million over the biennium for a “Hazardous Fuel Reduction Fund.” Back in October, I called for the governor to release the full amount so we can better manage our forests and increase the timber supply. However, the governor has not released the full amount.

The governor has been given another tool to help alleviate the timber shortage thanks to the “Good Neighbor Authority” granted to states under the federal farm bill. It passed with bipartisan majorities and was unanimously supported by Montana’s congressional delegation. The Good Neighbor Authority allows states to enter into contracts with the forest service to perform forest restoration programs, which includes timber sales.

Eighteen states have already entered agreements with the federal government to exercise the Good Neighbor Authority. The state of Wisconsin has used the authority to increase timber sales by a projected 25 percent on one forest. Despite having yet another valuable tool at hand, our current governor has yet to enter into an agreement with the federal government.

While these fuel reduction funds and executing a “Good Neighbor Authority” may not be the silver bullet needed to save the timber industry, the question remains: why isn’t the governor using every tool in the toolbox to help with timber jobs in Montana?

The governor should also be working with the Congressional delegation to advocate for federal policy reform. It is certainly true that the federal government has not done its job when it comes to timber management. Yet, if the feds have failed to do their job, then why hasn’t Governor Bullock supported any comprehensive federal land management reform proposals put forth by our own Congressman Ryan Zinke and Senator Steve Daines?

We need a governor who will work with our Congressional delegation towards meaningful reform. As it stands right now, the Bullock Administration is not very different from the Obama Administration on timber policy and litigation reform.

Unfortunately, as is all too common with this administration, Governor Bullock has failed to lead. He often tries to claim that he is powerless to act on these issues, yet he won’t join with Attorney General Tim Fox and other states to take legal action against the feds, he won’t use the remaining Hazardous Fuel Reduction Funds, he hasn’t signed a Good Neighbor Authority Agreement, and he is not working with our congressional delegation to advocate for federal land policy reform.

In the business world, a CEO faced with challenges cannot just pass the buck and wish things were different. One must pursue all available avenues to tackle problems. With state revenues now on the decline and layoffs occurring all across the state, it is clear that Montana needs a new CEO.

— Greg Gianforte, of Bozeman, is a Republican candidate for governor of Montana.