Resource policy recommended for approval

Despite numerous calls for a more thorough public review process, the Flathead County Planning Board recommended approval of a proposed natural resource policy on Wednesday.

The 6-1 vote followed a two-hour public hearing that featured more than 20 speakers.

The policy was developed over the last year by a seven-member Natural Resources Committee. It addresses such issues as energy and mineral resources, forest and fire-fuels management, wilderness and roadless areas, water quality and water rights, wetlands and riparian areas, and flood plains.

The 98-page document advocates a strong multiple-use approach towards natural resource management and encourages the county to take an active, cooperative role in the planning process for state and federal lands here.

"There needed to be a reference document that pulled together some history about the role natural resources have played in Flathead County's economy and culture," said Fred Hodgeboom, a retired forester and member of the resource committee. "This was an attempt to create a source document that would help the commissioners deal with state and federal agencies."

Flathead County Planning Director Forrest Sanderson said the county also is required to have a natural resources policy in place if it wants to "have a seat at the table" during discussions that affect the use and management of state or federal lands here.

If the commissioners approve the policy, it would be adopted as an appendix to the county growth policy.

The speakers on Wednesday offered near-unanimous praise for the resource committee's efforts. However, at least half of them and one planning board member said they hadn't had time to thoroughly review the document. The planning staff report also pointed out several errors and inconsistencies in it.

"I would thank the committee for the amount of time they put in on this, and I understand their desire to get this done before they disband," Rachel Potter said. "But you have to postpone this. There are parts of the document that are really good and other parts aren't so good. Some of it calls for irresponsible exploitation."

(The Natural Resource Committee was formed a year ago for the express purpose of creating this policy. Terms for all its members expire at the end of this year. This was cited as one of the reasons for having the hearing and adopting the policy now. However, most of the committee members were reappointed to another term on Thursday.)

"This policy views our national public lands as nothing more than county parks and tree farms," Brian Peck said. "It's supposed to craft a policy for the future, but it's locked into a 'rear-view mirror' approach to natural resource use."

For example, the energy and mineral resources section says the development of the Flathead's abundant mining and energy resources "is desirable and necessary to its economic well-being."

"If the county can't protect its citizens from gravel pits, how would they feel about it pushing the next Zortman-Landusky mine?" Peck asked.

Karen Reeves said her main problem was the policy's "undercurrent that public lands are a liability. I don't feel like we should have to apologize for having public lands here."

Several other speakers, though, said the county needs to have a say in how state and federal lands are managed, and urged the board to adopt the policy.

Ron Buentemeier, general manager at F.H. Stoltze Land & Lumber Co. and chairman of the resource committee, said the policy tries to be fair and recognize all the varied perspectives on this issue.

"I'm sure there are places that need corrections," he said. "It's a work in progress - that's what it was meant to be. Given the time we had, we felt this was a good start."

The planning board agreed, saying most of the errors identified in the staff report are minor and easily corrected.

"The knowledge and expertise of the people on this [resource] committee is to be commended," board member Tim Calaway said. "I think we have to rely on them. This policy is on the right track."

Reporter Bill Spence may be reached at 758-4459 or by e-mail at bspence@dailyinterlake.com