Protect the wild lands

The Wilderness and Roadless Area Release Act will be considered by the U.S. House of Representatives. Rep. Denny Rehberg is a co-sponsor of HR 1581.

In the state of Montana alone, this would remove federal protections from about 5.5 million acres. This would have a detrimental affect along the Rocky Mountain Front, Badger Two Medicine and North Fork of the Flathead areas along the Continental Divide, as well as substantial sections of the Sapphire, Cabinet, Bitterroot and Swan mountain ranges.

The results of the 1977 Montana Wilderness Study Act and the 1986 Forest Plan stand to be ignored if this legislation should pass. Study after study, and survey after survey, have shown that the majority of people in Montana are very supportive of these areas remaining wild.

Please join us in writing to elected officials and voice your concerns regarding this total disregard of public sentiment, the outdoor industry, hunters, anglers, hikers, horsemen and skiers.

Colleen and Don Scharfe

Kalispell