The Badger-Two Medicine is finally and permanently free of oil and gas leases. Today, the Glacier-Two Medicine Alliance, along with Blackfeet and conservation partners, has reached an historic settlement agreement to retire the last leasehold, bringing this nearly 40 year struggle to a close.
The U.S. Forest Service released their long-awaited revision of the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest plan. This document is a big deal for our cherished public lands that border Glacier National Park. Getting this one right is extremely important for everyone who cares about backcountry travel, our world-class wildlife habitat, and a wild Badger-Two Medicine.
As Montana slowly starts to ease restrictions on social movements, many of us are eager to reacquaint with friends on the trail or on the river. However, we need to remember this public health emergency is far from past.
It’s our hope and belief that through collective observance of public health directives and shared vigilance about the disease, we will arrive sooner at a time when we can safely resume social gatherings, travel, and group recreation without unnecessary risk to ourselves or our neighbors.
In the meantime, here is an update on GTMA’s response and how it will impact our planned summer events.
Cancelling Spring Events to Protect the Reservation
In light of on-going public health risks, the Glacier-Two Medicine Alliance board made the sad--but frankly easy--decision this week to cancel all of our spring events planned on or near the Reservation through June 30th. This includes all planned hikes, the spring speaker series, and the first screening of the International Wildlife Film Festival. Our purpose in doing so is to protect the health of our members, our volunteers, our participants, and our community. The Reservation community is particularly vulnerable to this disease for many reasons--including the widespread prevalence of underlying health conditions like diabetes, limited emergency response and health care capacity.
That’s why the Glacier-Two Medicine Alliance fully supports the efforts of the Blackfeet Tribe to prevent the spread of COVID-19 onto the Reservation, including prohibitions on social gatherings as well as travel to and across the Reservation by non-residents. At the same time, we recognize tribal and state restrictions have created real hardships and uncertainty for many businesses and their employees in our local tourism-based economy.
What about events later this summer?
Later this month we will make another decision whether to resume public activities and events for July and beyond. We will only resume offering hikes, speakers, films, and other public events when tribal, state, and local health guidelines allow, and then, only events we believe we can offer in a safe and responsible manner.
What about events held away from the Reservation?
While Glacier-Two Medicine Alliance occasionally hosts events in the Flathead, Great Falls, or elsewhere, nothing is scheduled at this time. We will not plan any events in off-reservation communities until state public health directives indicate we can do so safely and responsibly.
What about the Fall Gathering?
The 11th Annual Fall Gathering is still scheduled for Sept. 18 – 20 at Summit Mountain Lodge and Steakhouse on Marias Pass. We remain hopeful that this fabulous weekend of celebration, connection, and fundraising for the protection of Badger-Two Medicine will be able to go forward. That said, our first priority is the health and safety of participants and our local community, so we will only host the Fall Gathering if tribal and state directives indicate it is safe for people to gather and to travel. Contingency plans are in the works in case we must cancel this event.
What about the Volunteer Trail Crew?
This wonderful opportunity to give back and explore the Badger is still scheduled for September 4th – 9th. Our partners at the Bob Marshall Wilderness Foundation and the US Forest Service anticipate the trip can safely go forward. We continue to monitor the situation and will modify or cancel the trip as necessary to ensure participants’ (and the publics’) health and safety.
What does this mean for public recreation in the greater Badger-Two Medicine region?
Before making plans, it’s important to check the status of destinations in advance. For example, many of our favorite destinations near the Badger-Two Medicine remain closed to all visitors, including the Blackfeet Indian Reservation, Glacier National Park, and developed U.S. Forest Service sites. While trails in the Badger-Two Medicine area remains accessible to the general public from the west, they are still snow covered. If you decide to head out, please check and respect local closures, limit group size, and maintain physical distance from people (6 feet) and bears (300 feet). Better yet, take this opportunity to explore close to home!
Thank you everyone for your understanding, for doing your part to keep all of Montana’s communities safe and healthy, and for your support of Glacier-Two Medicine Alliance. Until we can safely gather together again, please stay local, recreate responsibly, and stay safe so that we can continue to hold this deadly disease at bay.
Stay up to date with the Blackfeet COVID-19 Incident Command on Facebook or the State of Montana’s COVID-19 response at https://covid19.mt.gov/
Friends,
We are gearing up at Glacier-Two Medicine Alliance this spring for two major milestones in the long walk to permanently protecting the Badger-Two Medicine. Both of these development will have a significant impact on the future of the land, water, and wildlife of this spectacular region. Here’s what you need to know to help us meet them head-on.
#1 – Coming to a Forest near you.. The Helena-Lewis and Clark Forest Plan Revision
The end of a three-year planning process for the revised forest plan for the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest is expected as soon as next month.
As wonky as it may sound, the revised forest plan for the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest is a really big deal for those of us who care about protecting clean water, wild lands, and wildlife. For the next decade and beyond, this plan will shape how the forest manages vegetation, grazing, fish and wildlife habitat, watersheds, and public recreation on its approximately 2.8 million acres of public lands. It also makes recommendations about which areas should be designated as Wilderness and what rivers and streams are suitable for inclusion in the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act.
Glacier Two-Medicine Alliance and its supporters have worked hard to ensure the plan includes strong components that safeguard water quality, wildlife habitat, and quiet backcountry recreation opportunities in the Badger-Two Medicine. We’ve also supported components that honor Blackfeet treaty rights, that direct the Forest Service to be a better partner with the Blackfeet government on certain management activities, and that protect the integrity of the Traditional Cultural District that overlays the Badger-Two Medicine region.
Many of our members submitted comments over the years and we will soon learn whether the Forest Service has listened to our guidance.
Once it is released, you can count on Glacier-Two Medicine Alliance to fully review it and provide you with prompt analysis of its strengths and weaknesses. We also intend to host a public hearing with the Forest Service to discuss how the plan will guide future management of the Badger-Two Medicine area.
#2 The Fate of the Final Oil and Gas Lease
That may sound like a bad movie title, but in all seriousness, only 1 lease remains of the 47 that were illegally issued in the early 1980s. After all these years, it’s still hard to believe anyone would want to drill in the Badger-Two Medicine, but Solenex, LLC, is still doggedly intent on developing a 6,240 acre lease at Hall Creek, over the objections of pretty much everyone.
A quick history recap. This past January the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals heard oral arguments whether the lease should be cancelled or reinstated. As you may recall, the lease was cancelled back in 2016 by the Department of Interior following an exhaustive analysis that confirmed its development would irreparably harm both Blackfeet cultural sites in addition to fish, wildlife, and other natural resources.
In response, Solenex filed a lawsuit against the federal government seeking to reverse the decision. Glacier-Two Medicine Alliance, along with five other organizations, intervened alongside the Trump Administration to defend Interior’s lease cancellation decision. Unfortunately the D.C. district court ordered the lease reinstated. Along with the Trump Administration we and our partners appealed to the D.C. Circuit Court, whose ruling we now await.
So what comes next? We are cautiously optimistic that the court will rule in our favor and that the decision will mark the end of a more-than 35-year odyssey to keep oil and gas out of the Badger-Two Medicine. However, the fate of this particular lease could still take years to resolve depending on how Solenex LLC proceeds.
Essentially, if the court rules in our favor, Solenex LLC has two options.
1) They can accept the ruling, the lease is cancelled and we all celebrate with cake and beverages.
2) Or the company may appeal the ruling and even petition the Supreme Court to hear the case, setting up potential additional legal challenges and delays that we will need to be prepared for.
While we have no idea what Solenex LLC will decide to do, it is worth bearing in mind they are represented by Mountain States Legal Foundation, a hard-line private property rights firm formerly headed by William Perry Pendley (if that name sounds familiar we will have more on him in a coming blog).
What matters here is that according to Mr. Pendley, Mountain States goal with every case is to get to the Supreme Court level in hope of establishing a legal precedence that strengthens private property rights. In this particular case, they are trying to limit the lawful scope of administrative authority to cancel an energy lease even in situations like in the Badger, where clear legal errors in the issuance of the lease occurred. Such precedence, if established, would be damaging to the ability of federal land managers across the country to steward public lands and natural resources in the public interest.
While Glacier-Two Medicine Alliance is hopeful this issue will never get to the Supreme Court, we want our supporters to be aware of this potential. Rest assured that whatever happens, Glacier-Two Medicine Alliance will pursue all possible remedies until this last lease is finally retired. Only then will the Badger-Two Medicine be free once and for all from the threat of oil and gas development.
Welcome to the brand new Badger Bulletin Blog (or Triple B for short). That’s right, with a bit more time on our hands courtesy of social isolation, the Glacier-Two Medicine Alliance has launched a new blog!
WHY START A BLOG?
The Badger Bulletin Blog is intended to bring our members and supporters the latest news about the Badger-Two Medicine region, offer insightful commentary on issues of importance, highlight upcoming events, and even suggest more ways you can get involved.
While our staff and Board will be the primary authors, we will also feature guest commentary from those who can lend unique insight or additional perspectives to a topic. Think of it as a mini-magazine delivered one article at a time, making it even easier for you to stay up on what’s happening at Glacier-Two Medicine Alliance.
WHAT ABOUT THE REGULAR COMMUNICATION I’M USED TOO?
Don’t worry. While the blog may be new, you can still count on us to continue sending out regular email updates and action alerts. All of this is aimed at providing you better and more efficient communication on the issues that matter to you. We hope you enjoy this new format and that it provides a helpful way for you to interact with us at Glacier-Two Medicine Alliance.
On behalf of all of us, thank you for your continued interest and support of our work. You are essential to our success.
Sincerely,
Peter Metcalf
Executive Director
P.S. A NOTE ON COVID-19
We sincerely hope you and your loved ones are staying safe, healthy, and practicing social distancing during this time of great uncertainty. Our greatest thanks to all of you who are on the front-lines of this epidemic – from health care workers, to social service providers, grocery store staff and other essential works.
We eagerly await the day this terrible fog lifts and we can once again gather for hikes and events to enjoy and celebrate the Badger-Two Medicine country. Until then, we will keep working remotely to protect its cherished lands, waters, and wildlife for all of us and for our children forever
