Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
This bill removes special protection from about 104,000 acres of public land in Montana that has been held as "wilderness study areas" for decades. These areas were studied and found unsuitable for full wilderness protection, but they remain in a holding pattern because Congress never acted. If this passes, federal land managers could allow more activities on this land, like logging, road building, trail work, and wildlife habitat projects, that are currently restricted.
About 104,000 acres of Montana public land used by hunters, anglers, and hikers could open up to new roads, logging, and habitat projects , or potentially mining and energy development , after sitting in a management freeze for over three decades.