PLUM CREEK DEAL KEEPS PUBLIC LAND OPEN

SENATOR BAUCUS MAKES A DEAL

Plum Creek Timber is turning over about a quarter of its Montana holdings in a deal backed by the federal government, which is pitching in $250 million, said U.S. Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont.

The land includes huge parcels in the scenic Swan Valley north of Missoula, and near the Bob Marshall Wilderness Area. The Nature Conservancy and The Trust for Public Land said the land will be managed as a working forest with places of harvestable timber.

PLAAI gas been closly monitoring the Plum Creek land dealings and holdings as they are often chekerboarded wtih public land and this pattern of owneship often results in de facto closures of the public land. (It is illegal to step over the corners of private land in checkerboard situations.)

For more details see the Billings Gazette story linked below.

related articles I-161 Guest Opinion ( 08/18/2010 )   Citizen Initiative 161 is sponsored by Montana resident hunters, tired of battling negative impacts caused by the current law guaranteeing Montana hunting outfitters 7,800 non-resident clients. These impacts include the loss of hunting access and the privatization of our wildlife. Sixteenmile Creek Acquisition Project ( 07/06/2010 )   Sixteenmile Creek Acquisition Project Needs Support and Comment. Two members of Public Land/Water Access Assoc.

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