Congressman Denny Rehberg

Offers further insight into public concerns with healthcare

BILLINGS, MT - Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, today sent a letter to Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius following her visit to Montana to discuss the health care legislation that was signed into law earlier this year. Polls at the time of passage indicated that Montanans strongly opposed the measure, and recent reports indicate that time has not improved the bill’s popularity. Rehberg has sponsored legislation to repeal the bill.

“I wish the authors of Obamacare had taken the time to listen to Montanans before they passed it instead of after, but I’m glad that they’re finally willing to hear what the folks I’ve been hearing from for years have to say,” said Rehberg, a member of the Health and Human Services Appropriations Subcommittee. “Americans still need health care reform that addresses costs and access, and unfortunately, the bill that passed addresses neither for rural states like Montana. At this point, the easiest solution is to start from scratch.”

Rehberg, who was the only member of Montana’s delegation to hold open, public meetings in Montana as the health care reform law was drafted and passed, cited the public sentiment he heard at those meetings as the justification for his vote. That negative public sentiment was also reflected in statewide polls, that indicated strong opposition to the bill.

“Unfortunately, the unpopularity of Obamacare is only a symptom of the serious deficiencies in the bill itself,” said Rehberg. “Far from fixing the problems we face, this job-killing bill makes things worse by hamstringing the economy and targeting small businesses for increased regulation and expenses.”

Letter:

Dear Secretary Sebelius,

Thank you for taking the time to visit Big Sky Country and discuss the health care needs of rural Montana. While it certainly would have been preferable for you to discuss the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) with Montanans before it was actually passed into law, I’m pleased you got a chance to talk to folks in a couple of communities.

As I’m sure you heard during your visit, quality health care is particularly challenging in a state like Montana where less than one million people are spread over 147,000 square miles. Having held 72 open and public listening sessions in Montana this Congressional term alone, I would like to share with you some of the rural health concerns I’ve heard from around the state.

As with most of the country, Montana’s economy is driven by small businesses which provide more than 98 percent of the jobs in our state. I have heard from a wide variety of small business owners who have expressed concern about the new obligations contained in the PPACA. Whether it’s the mandate to offer health insurance, new taxes on Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and Flexible Savings Accounts (FSAs), increased insurance premiums, or the requirement that all vendors are responsible for additional IRS paperwork for purchases of $600 or greater, many businesses have stopped hiring or are being forced to reduce their workforce to comply with these new obligations. In short, these burdensome obligations impact job creation.

I have also heard from many of Montana’s seniors and their doctors with concerns about Medicare. Not only does the PPACA cut $575 billion from Medicare, the new law does nothing to deal with the most pressing issue facing Medicare today – the need for a permanent fix to the reimbursement rate cuts for doctors providing service to Medicare patients. Many doctors have told me that if these cuts go into effect they will no longer be able to afford to offer services to their Medicare patients. In a state where some patients must travel for hours to reach their doctor, it may be impossible to find an alternative provider.

Additionally, I have heard concerns about the cost of the new high risk pool program. We discussed this when you testified before the House Labor, Health and Human Services, Education Appropriations Subcommittee earlier this year. While I agree that changes are necessary to address the health insurance needs of those with pre-existing conditions, current estimates indicate this temporary program is going to cost up to three times the original estimate of $5 billion. It’s unclear how you intend to pay for this shortfall. Furthermore, because this estimate was so inaccurate I have serious concerns as to the accuracy of the cost estimates of permanent programs.

Many of my constituents are also opposed to the individual mandate to purchase health insurance. As you know, a recent ballot initiative in Missouri found that 71 percent of voters opposed the individual mandate. While no such equivalent survey has been conducted in Montana, it only takes one open, public listening session to realize that folks here share this concern.

Thank you again for visiting Montana. I hope you’ll keep the thoughts of Montanans in mind as we continue to address the problems facing America’s health care system.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, has contacted the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) asking for a variety of clarifications relating to the Superfund cleanup in Libby, Montana.

“As much as the folks in Libby want this cleanup to be over, they also want it to be done right,” said Rehberg.  “The EPA needs to provide important clarifications regarding its completed work, and also what their obligation will be in the event that it doesn’t get done right the first time.  This isn’t the first time we’ve seen a less than thorough response from the federal government, so the skepticism of the local community is completely justified.”

Rehberg’s letter to the Director of the Superfund Remedial Program for EPA-Region 8 is included below:

Dear Director Murray:

I’m writing to make you aware of public concerns regarding the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) recent signing of Records of Decision (ROD) affecting portions of the Libby Asbestos Superfund Site.  As you know, RODs for Operable Units (OU) 1 and 2 were signed by EPA and the Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) last month.

I’ve heard from constituents who are concerned that, despite the completed ROD, there remain visible pockets of vermiculite scattered in OU1 as a result of disturbances to soil and other surfaces.  Currently, the public is allowed to access these areas.  Many in Libby believe their questions haven’t been adequately answered, particularly in regards to whether EPA will return to Libby if future evidence reveals that vermiculite exists in areas deemed safe by the ROD.  As a result, I’d appreciate your response to the following questions:

1.      What is the process for reopening the ROD based on the presence of vermiculite in OU1?  What level of perceived risk must be reached to either rescind or review the ROD once it has been issued?

2.      Have the health risks of exposed vermiculite in OU1 been assessed and determined to be not a risk to public health?  What measures are being taken to assure local government and citizens that public activities can occur in OU1?

3.      Have all the comments from citizens, local government and other concerned stakeholders been responded to before the ROD was issued?

4.      Have health risks from exposure to vermiculite in OU1 and OU2 been adequately addressed to provide the public reasonable assurance that a permanent level of cleanup has been achieved?

5.      Are sufficient institutional controls in place to provide remedial actions for activities in these operable units to address issues such as excavation, construction and public events in the area?

As this process moves forward, I ask that EPA remember the importance of addressing public input and concerns relating to the cleanup effort.  Thank you for your attention to this matter, and please don’t hesitate to contact my office if I can be of further assistance.

Sincerely,

Town Hall Meetings Set For Toole, Glacier, Flathead, Lake, Mineral, Ravalli & Missoula Counties

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, has scheduled seven Listening Sessions across Western Montana for the July 4 District Work Period.  This continues his open-door policy of holding open meetings where anyone can come and Rehberg takes comments and questions from all comers.

“Government transparency is only useful if it’s coupled with accountability,” said Rehberg, a member of the House Appropriations Committee.  “It’s easy to sit behind a desk in Washington and wait for the phone to ring, and that’s what some of my colleagues have decided to do.  But I made a commitment years ago to visit each of Montana’s 56 counties each Congress, to listen and learn what the people I represent think about where our country is headed.  In turn, my actions were framed by the input I received from thousands of Montanans who attended the listening sessions I’ve already held.  That’s why I voted against Obama’s takeover of health care and against every single bailout including the biggest bailout of them all, the ‘so-called’ stimulus. ”

Rehberg scheduled the following Listening Sessions between July 5 and July 9, 2010:

Toole County—Shelby
Monday, July 5, 2010 at 10:30 AM
Shelby Civic Center
669 Park Avenue

Glacier County—Cut Bank
Monday, July 5, 2010 at 1:30 PM
Joe Meagher Civic Center
800 East Railroad Street

Flathead County—Kalispell
Tuesday, July 6, 2010 at 10 AM
FVCC Arts and Technology, Room 139
777 Grandview Drive

Lake County—Polson
Wednesday, July 7, 2010 at 1:30 PM
Lake County Courthouse
106 4th Avenue

Mineral County—Superior
Thursday, July 8, 2010 at 10:30 AM
Superior High School
410 Arizona Avenue

Ravalli County—Hamilton
Thursday, July 8, 2010 at 2 PM
Marcus Daily Hospital
1200 Westwood Drive

Missoula County—Missoula
Friday, July 9, 2010 at 10 AM
Continuing Education Center
32 Campus Drive

Young Artists from Whitefish and Geraldine Also Honored

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, today announced that Paige Ward, from Libby High School, has been selected as the grand prize winner of Montana’s Congressional Art Competition for 2010.  Rehberg will join Ward in a Capitol Hill ceremony where her artwork will be unveiled and displayed for one year in the Cannon Tunnel along with the artwork of winners from other congressional districts.  The Cannon Tunnel is a pedestrian walkway, leading to the United States Capitol building, frequented by Members of Congress, staff, and the general public.

“With this year’s batch of exceptional artwork from around Montana, picking a winner was harder than ever,” said Rehberg.  “Hosting the Congressional Art Contest is a pleasure to judge each year.  I look forward to seeing Paige’s beautiful picture on the walls of the Cannon Tunnel.”

Paige Ward’s “Silent Helper”

Ward is a senior at Libby High School.  Her artwork was selected from among the entries submitted from all across Montana in the Congressional Art Competition, a U.S. House of Representatives art competition which has been held annually since 1982.  Ward’s digital photograph is entitled “Silent Helper,” and depicts a bee on a flower.  The image was made for an assignment in a Beginners Photography class at Libby High School.

“As an artist going to college next fall and majoring in Photography, I am very pleased to add this accomplishment to my applications and awards in the future,” said Ward.  “Winning this competition helped me realize that even a simple girl from the Middle of Nowhere, Montana can achieve her dreams. I hope this is just the start of many great accomplishments in my photographic career.  I just want to say that I am thrilled with this opportunity and could not hold in my enthusiasm when I heard I won! I was shocked and leaped in the air when Ms. Rambo told me! I couldn’t believe it!”

Ward’s artwork was also the top choice in public voting via the social networking website Facebook.  Rehberg posted all entries online for public review and voting to help select the finalists.  As the grand prize winner, she received airfare for her and a guest to attend the artwork’s unveiling ceremony in Washington D.C.  She’ll also receive a $1,000 art scholarship offer from the University of Montana.  Paige is the daughter of Steve and Sydney Ward of Libby.  Patty Rambo was Ward’s art teacher at Libby High School.

In addition to the grand prize winner, Rehberg also recognized Katie McGunagle, a senior from Whitefish High School for her oil painting, “At Water’s Edge” and Zac Danbrook a junior from Geraldine High School for his photograph, “Wheat.”  Their artwork will be featured in Rehberg’s Washington D.C. office.  Their art teachers are Lonnie Collinsworth and Raeann Meeks, respectively.

   
“Wheat” by Zach Danbrook and “At Water’s Edge” by Katie McGunagle

WASHINGTON, DC – Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, today posted a list of verbal and written comments he heard from Montanans during the 22 public meetings he held regarding Sen. Jon Tester’s Wilderness bill. The comments are posted in the “Transparency Center” portion of Rehberg’s congressional website. Last week, Rehberg promised to take this action in a letter to Senator Tester and asked the Senator to join him in doing so in order to maximize transparency in the legislative process.

“I heard from hundreds of Montanans, each with their own ideas and opinions,” said Rehberg, “While ideas will vary in merit, each deserves to at least be heard and considered in a public forum. That’s what I’m trying to do – put them all in the bucket and see which ones end up floating.”

Rehberg has laid out a number of these comments as examples of what he’d like to see changed in the underlying legislation. One proposal, addressing an overriding concern heard in 22 listening sessions, is the notion of a wilderness ‘phase-in’ that would time the creation of new wilderness to the active management of other lands. This solution would alleviate the concern that as soon as the bill becomes law, the wilderness designations are immediate, while there is no assurance that stewardship components would not be infinitely delayed by litigation.

Rehberg, who relayed multiple suggestions in real-time to the public and the press during the course of his listening tour, has gathered a wide array of additional ideas for changes to the legislation including boundary line concerns from farmers and ranchers, preservation of recreational opportunities for outdoor enthusiasts, and maintaining the ability to accurately inventory natural resources like molybdenum.

“There’s no silver bullet here,” warned Rehberg. “There are a lot of very good ideas that should each be considered on their own merit. While I appreciate the buy-in from the partnerships that helped draft the bill, this legislation affects all Montanans who deserve the right to be heard. In addition to some other fixes, an incremental phase-in would help ensure logging isn’t bogged down by lawsuits after new wilderness areas are designated.”

Comments can be found online at http://rehberg.house.gov

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, today sent a response to Senator Jon Tester (MT) regarding his request for a meeting to discuss his wilderness bill. Senator Tester sent a letter to Rehberg late last week asking the Congressman to meet him in his Senate office in Washington, DC to discuss the issue. Rehberg recently completed 22 public meetings in Montana on the subject of Senator Tester’s wilderness bill.

“While it’s clear that some fortunate interest groups have been very involved in writing this bill from the beginning, my goal is to include all Montanans who are impacted by this legislation,” said Rehberg, a member of the Congressional Sportsman’s Caucus. “Each of my twenty-two meetings has been open to the public. I certainly don’t see a reason why a meeting with Senator Tester should be any different.” Rehberg asked Senator Tester to meet with him in Montana, rather than in his Washington, D.C. office, and that the meeting be open to the public and the press.

In his letter, Rehberg also asked Senator Tester to join him in posting the individual comments Senator Tester heard from Montanans at his “open house” meetings on his website. “As Montana’s representatives to the U.S. Congress, we have the honorable distinction of setting for ourselves a higher standard of openness and transparency,” wrote Rehberg in his letter.

Finally, Rehberg noted that all of Senator Tester’s “open house” meetings took place after his bill had been written and introduced. Since Senator Tester’s most recent meeting was more than two months ago, Rehberg asked to see the most recent working draft of his wilderness bill that contained any changes resulting from the input he received at those meetings.

“I think Montanans would like to see how their ideas are being implemented in the bill,” said Rehberg. “Seeing what progress has already been made would certainly make our meeting more productive since we could avoid concerns that have already been addressed.”

Complete Letter Below:

Read the rest of this entry »

In early January, I held 21 public listening sessions and meetings, to hear what Montanans had to say about Senator Tester’s bill to designate more than 600,000 acres of new wilderness. Hundreds of Montanans attended, each with the opportunity to stand up to offer an opinion. Next weekend, I will finish my listening tour in Libby, although I will continue taking input by phone, letter, email, fax, Facebook or any way Montanans care to contact me.

You don’t need to spend too much time in Western Montana to see the need for good forest stewardship. While problems like fires and beetle infestations were around long before man settled among the trees, we now have the ability to manage these challenges to create healthier forests and build a stronger economy.

The hard part is finding a balance between stewardship and wilderness because too much of either can damage the health of both the forest and the economy. It’s also important that such a balance come from a broad consensus of stakeholders.

Over the years, various partnerships between people with similar interests have emerged. Senator Tester’s effort to bring many of these partnerships to the table to develop a collaborative piece of legislation is commendable.

The fruits of that collaboration were evident in the support I heard for Senator Tester’s bill at my public meetings. But I also discovered that many people with legitimate and important concerns about the bill were left out of the process entirely. These Montanans deserve to be heard, and it’s my job to listen to them.

That’s why my first step was a listening tour to field comments, suggestions and concerns about this legislation. And while the comments varied, one theme remained consistent — something needs to be done to move the process forward and end the deadlock facing our public lands, and any such legislation needs to be balanced.

And I listened.

I got a lot of input, and heard some very good ideas:

One idea is to create a graduated trigger for wilderness designation. Under current provisions in the bill, new wilderness would be created on day one, while the designated forest management areas risk perpetual limbo in an endless sea of legal appeals. Radio-man John Schuyler suggested an incremental approach. Each parcel of new wilderness would be created once a certain number of acres were opened to stewardship, or a certain number of jobs created.

A representative of the Montana Backcountry Horsemen expressed his strong support for Senator Tester’s bill, saying that it would afford many benefits to the ailing timber industry while improving fish and wildlife habitat.

A supporter of Senator Tester’s legislation argued that Montana was overdue for a wilderness designation since the last one was 26 years ago.

A representative of the Montana Woolgrowers Association asked that “hard release” language be added to the bill in order to end the management of de-facto wilderness in places like Montana’s seven Wilderness Study Areas.

Over the course of the meetings, it became evident to me that a collaborative effort does not necessarily yield a consensus. I could collaborate with my wife Jan to decide that the Rehberg family should watch The Sound of Music on movie night, but that doesn’t mean the rest of the family will think that’s a good idea. And while the fundamental idea may be sound, when making a decision that affects the whole family, the whole family ought to be involved.

Unfortunately, in this case, some industries like timber were invited to the table, while others were excluded. For example, our state motto is Oro y plata, an homage to our mining heritage. Yet the resource industry wasn’t included in the drafting of the legislation. Similarly, some members of the agricultural community found themselves on the outside looking in.

As I stated on my listening tour, this legislation is the first step, not the end of the process. The majority of Montanans agree there are places in our state that ought to be protected as wilderness, and areas that should be managed for healthier forests. I commend Senator Tester and his partnerships for their bill. Now that the product of their collaboration is public, the public must weigh in and consensus found. I look forward to reflecting on what I learned, reviewing the nuance of maps and legislation and finding a workable solution for 2010, 2020 and beyond.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, has scheduled a sixth public listening session in Libby to hear comments and concerns regarding Senator Tester’s Wilderness Bill. This will be the 22nd public meeting Rehberg has held on the subject of wilderness since the beginning of the year.

“Hearing directly from Montanans has already proven invaluable,” said Rehberg. “These sessions are an important first-step to finding a consensus-based solution for our need to actively manage forests while also protecting regions of wilderness for future generations. I look forward to hearing what the folks in Libby have to say.”

The listening session is open to all members of the public and the press. Rehberg, as always, will take comments and questions from anyone who wishes to be heard.

Lincoln County Wilderness Listening Session
          Saturday, January 16, 3:00 pm
          Ponderrosa Room
          952 E. Spruce St.
          Libby, MT 59923

BILLINGS, MT. – Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, announced today nine rural schools in Montana will share a $404,587 grant to develop a distance learning consortium that will help improve the quality of rural education in Montana.

“Improving education opportunities in Montana is a priority of mine in Congress,” said Rehberg, a member of the House Rural Education Caucus. “Distance learning technology in Montana’s rural classrooms increases student access to a wide variety of world-wide learning opportunities, and provides the educator with a host of additional teaching tools.”

The funding is from the USDA Rural Development Distance Learning and Telemedicine (DLT) Grant Program, which provides equipment, software, and training resources for education and health care institutions in rural areas. The money will be used for a web-based interactive and streamed media consortium of nine rural schools. The schools are located in Colstrip, Glasgow, Harlem, Noxon, and Rocky Boy.

“These distance learning tools will help students see the world,” said Tracey Dean, distance learning coordinator at Noxon Public Schools. “The program will be used school-wide, not only helping students, but helping educators make teacher-to-teacher connections and learn from each other,” said Dean, who added the program will also be used as a community and adult education resource.

The $1.04 million distance learning system will require school district matching funds, and likely be operational by the start of next school year.

WASHINTON, D.C. – Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg today announced funding in the final Department of Interior Appropriations Bill which will now go to President Obama for his signature. Rehberg is a member of the House Appropriations Committee.

“With the vast expanses of federally controlled land in Montana, these funds are a necessary and significant part of preserving our state’s heritage,” said Rehberg. “Montanans want to protect our state for our children and grandchildren. That’s why I worked across party lines with Montana’s Senators and President Obama to find common ground to secure funding for these projects.”

As a member of the Appropriations Committee, Rehberg has worked over the last year to include these projects in the final bill. The final bill lists his name as a sponsor for each of these projects, which were carefully scrutinized by Rehberg and his staff and supported by folks all across Montana. Unfortunately, the same care was not applied to the rest of the bill which was written by the House majority. Consequently, Rehberg voted against the final legislation because it included reckless and unsustainable spending increases that he simply could not support. Rehberg’s vote was part of an effort to return the bill to the Appropriations Committee in order to reduce the overall levels of spending to an amount he could support.

The projects Rehberg secured are listed below:

City of Bozeman Main Street Historical District Restoration - $150,000
“We greatly appreciate Representative Rehberg’s work on this. The historic buildings on three sides of the explosion were significantly damaged in the explosion, but not destroyed. I know those owners are struggling to come up with the resources to save those historic sites, which will benefit the community by restoring jobs.” - Chris Kukulski, City Manager , Bozeman

Bozeman’s historic downtown has served as its center of economic activity since the city was first established. The historic core is a hub for retail, dining, banking, and professional services.

On March 5, 2009, a natural gas line explosion in Bozeman’s historic downtown. The explosion and subsequent fire destroyed four historic buildings, and significantly damaged three others. All buildings were in the Bozeman Main Street Historic District, which is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Plant Biotechnology Research With MSU - $1 million

“We are delighted to be working with an institution as fine as Montana State University and we applaud Congressman Rehberg’s vital efforts for important university research that will benefit the agriculture economy in Montana. Denny is a true champion of research funding and all it can do for agriculture, energy security and a cleaner healthier environment.” - Dorin Schumacher, President of the Consortium for Plant Biotechnology Research (CPBR)

CPBR funds university research and technology transfer for environmentally friendly industries. Working with the Montana State University, it will improve existing technology and develop new ones ranging from “green” chemicals and industrial manufacturing processes to environmental remediation. This, in turn, helps build agricultural and environmentally friendly industries and develop a workforce of the future that will reduce greenhouse gases and create new, high-paying “green” jobs in Montana and throughout the nation.

CPBR supports research that private companies tend to avoid as a result of high-risks and long-term outlays.

Water Research Foundation, Based in Missoula - $1.7 million

“We’re particularly appreciative of Congressman Rehberg for his responsible and responsive efforts to fund this project. This funding will be leveraged five times over by private contributions, and the real beneficiaries of the Water Research Foundation’s efforts are the rural areas and small utilities that are so prominent in Montana. They need the research and data the most, and can least afford to do it on their own.” - Arvid ‘Butch’ Hiller, Vice President and General Manager of Mountain Water Company in Missoula

The Water Research Foundation, based in Missoula, helps local water companies and districts supply safe, affordable drinking water to consumers nation-wide. Its work focuses on applied research for cost effective technologies to enhance drinking water technologies. It’s the largest drinking water research foundation in the world, and has sponsored research world-wide to make drinking water clean, affordable and available to the public.

Em-Kayan County Water & Sewer Infrastructure Improvement – $290,600

“We want to thank Congressman Rehberg for his hard work on this important project. This funding will replace the leaking pipes and antiquated control system. We’re suffering a lot of leakage problems, which causes contamination risks for the people of Em-Kayan, and this funding will help us modernize our systems.” - Gene Tracy President of the Em-Kayan Sewer Water District and President of the Homeowners Association

The Em-Kayan community water system, which consists of three springs, two wells, five steel storage tanks and a water distribution system including fire hydrants, was constructed in the 1960’s. Although it has been expanded several times to meet increases in demand, it now requires improvements that are beyond the financial capabilities of the District alone.

These funds will help with the installation of a new PVC water main to prevent water system contamination and better conserve Montana’s resources, the installation of 62 water meters to improve accounting and conservation, 5 new hydrants to meet fire safety requirements, and installation of a new control system to replace the existing maintenance intensive system.

Various Conservation Easements – $12 million

“We appreciate Congressman Rehberg’s support of these projects. Landowner demand for easements on the Rocky Mountain Front grew by 30,000 acres this year. These United States Fish & Wildlife Service easements support the viability of local ranches and communities in which they reside. The Blackfoot Bureau of Land Management project represents the largest remaining public portion of the larger Blackfoot Community Project, which, when complete, will conserve more than 100,000 acres in diverse public and private ownership and will help maintain a rural way of life for that community.” - Bebe Crouse, Director of Communications, The Montana Chapter of the Nature Conservancy.

“Thanks to Representative Rehberg, this critical funding will complete this project and preserve the Meeteetse Spires’ spectacular scenery, conserve important wildlife habitat and expand recreational access. We applaud Rep. Rehberg for his leadership and commitment to enhancing the quality of life for the people – and wildlife – of Montana.” - Gates Watson, director of The Conservation Fund’s Montana Office

President Obama included requests for several Conservation Easements in his budget and Rehberg submitted them to the Interior Appropriations Subcommittee. They included land acquisitions for Meeteetse Spires ($1.5 million), Blackfoot Challenge-Nora Gulch ($1 million), Rocky Mountain Front ($3.75 million), Blackfoot River Special Recreation Management Area ($4.5 million) and GYA-Cooke City Mining claims ($2 million).

Conservation easements are voluntarily conveyed, partial legal interests in land. Since the 1975 passage of The Montana Open-Space Land and Voluntary Conservation Easement Act over 300,000 acres have been protected with conservation easements. They comprise ecological, open space, recreational and historic areas and can include wildlife habitat, natural and undisturbed ecosystems, wildlife and scenic river corridors, threatened or endangered species, recreational resources, pro­ductive agricultural land, educational resources and historic sites or structures.

Each easement is different because each parcel of land is unique, and each easement is designed in consultation with the landowner. All land uses not specifically given up in the easement deed remain with the landowner.