O-SenseIt is not surprising that federal lands and related natural resources issues are important to Idaho.
A full 63.8% of all Idaho land is in federal hands, mostly managed by the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management. Those lands are important to graziers and for timber, playing a key role in Idaho’s rural economy. Recreation on those lands is huge. According to the Outdoor Industry Association, outside recreation, in general, generates nearly $2.2 billion in Idaho.
There have been a significant number of Idaho public land and natural resources issues in the news in just the last couple weeks:
- The federal government is currently weighing a 20-year ban on mineral extraction on
10 million acres managed by the Bureau of Land Management in six Western states
(including Idaho) to protect sage grouse. Far more aggressive measures may be
forthcoming to protect the bird, which lives in areas covered by sagebrush.
- A federal judge based in Oregon, the Honorable Michael H. Simon, is requiring the
federal government to reevaluate its plan for protecting Columbia River/Snake River
salmon, including possible consideration of the breaching of four dams on the Lower
Snake River. Some argue that breaching is the only way to restore healthy runs while
others point to the power generated and the importance of the dams for barge traffic
to and from Lewiston.
- The Idaho Department of Lands just completed the sale of timber on 216 acres of Nez
Perce National Forest land under the Good Neighbor Authority Act which allows
governors to identify federal forest lands at risk of disease or insect infestation
and work with the federal government to jointly design projects (including timber
removal) to restore the forest.
- And, last week, a legal analysis prepared by the Conference of Western Attorneys General (made up of the attorney generals of 15 western states and 3 U.S. territories) was released pursuant to a public-records request (it can be viewed here). The report was generated by a subcommittee appointed by Idaho Attorney General Lawrence Wasden to examine the legal issues around possible challenges to federal ownership of western lands. Overall, the report finds that the various legal theories advanced to require the transfer of federal lands to the states are shaky at best.
Given the impact of public lands and natural resources in Idaho, it is interesting to see the different approaches taken by the two major party presidential candidates.
Donald Trump rejected the idea of transferring federal land to the states during the primary. He has since indicated that he might allow some leeway for lands in urban areas to be transferred.
His son Donald Trump, Jr. in an event in Grand Junction, Colorado, a couple of weeks ago strongly embraced the idea of multiple use for federal lands: “We can have grazing, we can have energy, we can have hunting and fishing on the same lands. We can multipurpose these lands...”
Hillary Clinton opposes transferring federal lands to the states and supports restricting access to public lands for oil and gas leasing. She wants to improve recreational access by unblocking restrictions to federal lands by private property owners.
It is interesting that both candidates are opposed to federal land transfers with the caveat that Trump might favor some limited version around urban areas. Clinton focuses on recreation on public lands while Trump pushes the idea of economic activity balanced by recreational use.
I cannot find evidence that either candidate has taken a position on either the sage grouse or dam breaching issue.
Whichever one is elected will have a substantial impact on these and similar issues that impact Idaho.
Steve Taggart is an Idaho Falls attorney specializing in bankruptcy (www.MaynesTaggart.com). He has an extensive background in politics and public policy. He can be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
