Take Action: Speak Up for Public Lands Today
Public lands are once again on the chopping block in DC. A new amendment added to the budget bill from the Senate Energy and Natural Resources committee is calling for the sale of over 2 million acres of public land across the west.
It turns out, Montana is the one western state excluded from the land sale amendment. We can thank our elected delegation for that because they have been standing very firm in opposition to public lands disposal. But, that does not mean that it’s okay to sell public lands elsewhere, nor should any support be given to this amendment. The sale of public lands is unacceptable regardless of which state it occurs in.
PCEC has advocated and fought for public lands in Park County for decades. Some of our most recent fights have included working with local partners to secure the passage of the Yellowstone Gateway Protection Act, protecting 30,000 acres of public lands from mineral extraction and development. We also worked tirelessly to remove BLM oil and gas leases surrounding Livingston from going to auction.
The dispensing of public lands could have a profoundly negative impact on the greater Yellowstone ecosystem if lands in Wyoming and Idaho are liquidated adjacent to the Park. Little good would come if only areas in Montana remain protected, while the rest of the Yellowstone region’s public lands are gutted. See this map for lands eligible for sale.
People across the west and the nation cherish and value all of our public lands. We are not unique in that respect here in Montana. So far we have vocally stood up to these actions, but more action is needed. We must defend not only the public lands in Park County and Montana, but also across the nation.
Join us in sending a message to Montana’s delegation asking that they continue to defend not only Montana’s public lands, but all of America’s public lands. Senator Mike Lee’s amendment must be pulled from the budget bill: not a portion of it, not just those states asking to be excluded, but the entire amendment.
It’s worth noting that the attack on public lands is not the only reason to be suspicious of the budget bill. There are also countless other negative impacts to public health, medicaid, social security, education and the list goes on. While we are not ignoring those aspects, we are trying to focus on the one that is most informed by our mission: to protect the lands, water and wildlife of Park County.
Use this link (or the button above) to send a message. You can also call Montana’s delegation: here is the phone number to the Capitol Switchboard, 202-224-3121. They will connect you to any Senate or House Office.