Volume XXI, Number 15

Wednesday, November 16, 2005

By Senator Rick Laible, Senate District 44

The Middle East Fork Hazardous Fuel Reduction project, under the Federal Healthy Forests Restoration Act, has been over two years in the creation, with impute from the local community and interested parties. The opinions from all sides of this issue were carefully considered and resulted in three alternatives. The Middle East Fork is a priority treatment area as identified in the Ravalli County Community Wildfire Protection Plan, identified as those areas that require fuel reduction treatments to protect community values. According to the Bitterroot Forest Plan, the Middle East Fork is part of the 27% of the Bitterroot Forest where active management will take place.

Under Alternative 2, this project includes treatment to over 6,400 acres of timbered land that is infected with Douglas-fir bark beetles. The project, though large in size, includes a combination of prescribed fire, slashing, commercial treatment, log salvage, thinning and of course replanting of new trees. This project consists of 93 silvicultural treatment areas, each of which identifies a specific treatment to be applied to that particular area. The majority of the commercial harvest will consist of dead Douglas fir trees infected with Douglas-fir bark beetles. There are no new roads required, no impact to roadless or wilderness areas, no commercial harvesting in old growth forest, and the majority of the harvest will be done by helicopter.

Alternative 2 was identified as the preferred alternative based on the best available management practices, but unfortunately at a press conference in September, Forest Supervisor Dave Bull restricted the meeting to invited guests only, including myself.

Dave Bull realized that the closed press conference was inappropriate and apologized in the newspaper to the community, but a local special interest group has filed a lawsuit over the infringement of their constitutional rights. This just confirms that two wrongs don't make a right, and for $15 you can sue a "ham sandwich." The Forest Service has a legal right to have a private press conference, but they have a moral obligation to this community for a transparent and public process. The uproar, rightly so, from some in our community over the handling of this press conference has overshadowed the merits of the project.

Two years have passed and there is a lot of effort that went into the various alternatives of this project. Alternative 2 (in my opinion) is obviously the best approach and we should encourage the Forest Service to review the objections to the project, try to find common ground, but don't dilute the scope of the project. Let's not waste more time on litigation, posturing or complaining about every crossed "t" and dotted "i" and begin the process of managing our forests. All sides are at fault, but let's get over it and move on.

The continuing conflict over the management and restoration of our forest cheapens the process and more importantly wounds the troubled soul of our community.

It wasn't so long ago that we could disagree, agreeably, and that the fabric of our community was made up of the threads that bound us together. Let us return to those Montana values which separates us from discordant voices.

Support for Langton recall effort

I would like to address some of the letters to the editor in regards to the petition for the voters to decide whether Judge Langton should be recalled or not. Let me make this clear, everyone has the right to their opinion. Listed below are my reasons for being involved with getting signatures on the petition.

1) Judge Langton encouraged Rhonda Gingerich to violate her probation by buying her a drink knowing that she was on probation for drinking under the influence of alcohol.

2) Judge Langton drove under the influence of alcohol 0.197 on the breathalyzer and 0.167 by blood test and with an open container on February 13, 2005.

3) Judge Langton pleaded guilty to both charges on March 4, 2005.

4) When Judge Langton was stopped by the police officer for driving under the influence on Feb. 13, 2005, he attempted to intimidate the officer by telling him, I hope you know what you are doing.

5) When taken to the emergency room for blood testing the arresting officer noted that the ER was empty and there would be no wait. Judge Langton responded, What the f--- do you care.

6) In violation of his probation on June 11, 2005 Judge Langton was found at the Holiday Inn Parkside in Missoula, passed out from drinking alcohol.

7) He challenged having the alcohol device connected to his car. Having pressure put on, he withdrew his challenge.

8) We must not overlook the fact Judge Langton did not seek help for his addiction until he was required to do so.

I am a born again Christian and I do not walk on water nor am I perfect in any way. But I believe in holding our elected officials accountable. If you do not agree that is your right and I respect your right to your opinion. Please respect mine. Let the voters decide.

Bruceen (Peanut) Fleenor
Hamilton

Natural gas pricing system needs further state regulation

Dear Editor,

Following is an open letter to Senator Conrad Burns:

Dear Senator Burns,
It became readily apparent, as the Montana Public Service Commission worked its way through its Universal Service Benefits allocations for NorthWestern Energy customers, that the USB program is a wholly inadequate resource for dealing with the enormous harm that the natural gas markets are doing to Montana natural gas customers of all kinds. The run-up in natural gas prices, which began about 3-1/2 years ago, has gone well beyond being a simple challenge for low-income customers. The harm now extends well into the middle class, and is also challenging for small businesses that are heavily dependent on natural gas for their operations. It is not an exaggeration to suggest that the Montana economy rests in the balance.

Given the unique status of the government agency we lead, Public Service Commissioners find themselves at ground zero of public anger and dismay about the utility bills, particularly for natural gas, that they face this coming winter. Because we're not surrounded by political handlers, and are not flush with special interest campaign treasuries, we must deal with those customers face-to-face and on a daily basis. Believe me, that anger and dismay is genuine, and frankly, well grounded.

As Commissioners, we are able to document to those customers that that portion of the utility bill we regulate has remained fairly stable for several years. Unfortunately, our regulatory authority is limited to the transmission and distribution charges the utilities receive for delivering the natural gas to their customers, and that portion of the bill is typically less than 30% of the total in current market conditions. Unequivocally, it is the market price for the natural gas commodity, which the PSC does not regulate and which the distribution utilities cannot control, that is harming family and business budgets throughout Montana. Since we do not permit the distribution utilities to add a mark-up to the product they deliver to the customer, the profits in the current market are clearly accruing to the firms that sell to the utilities for resale to the end-use customer.

The assertions of economic theorists and 'special interest' think tanks that markets are imbued with an innate self-discipline are contradicted by the fact that natural gas market increases have dwarfed any measure of inflation during the past 3-1/2 years. Recent reports of record profits by energy producers only reinforce the fact that there has been no discipline of any kind in the natural gas and other petroleum markets. Make no mistake, our constituents believe, and they are correct, that natural gas markets are out of control.

The reason I am writing you on this subject is because natural gas markets are clearly 'interstate commerce,' and in some cases, 'international commerce.' Therefore under the Constitution, only the Congress and national administration can make the decision to reinsert some discipline into the natural gas markets.

As a consequence, I proposed at Governor Schweitzer's Energy Symposium that we need to adopt economic regulation of the natural gas markets beyond the distribution utilities. Let there be no misrepresentation of what I propose. I firmly believe that profit is a necessary incentive for productivity in our economy. However, I also believe, and I think the public agrees, that at some point there is a line dividing legitimate profit from profiteering and price gouging. The economic regulatory environment I envisage would charge regulatory agencies like the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, in cooperation with state commissions, to identify that line and to take the necessary steps to prevent profiteering and price gouging.

As soon as I made my proposal, some of my acquaintances in the natural gas industry told me my idea would never work. I was not surprised. However, anyone who believes the current system is working demonstrates the same insensitivity as Queen Marie-Antoinette who, upon hearing of her subjects complaints, famously replied, "Let them eat cake." Therefore, I have challenged the defenders of the current system to join me across the kitchen table from Montana natural gas customers who are faced with excruciating, sometimes life threatening, choices in managing their family budgets this coming winter and offer their justifications to those Montanans. So far, none have volunteered to join me, just as none have so far managed to respond to NWE's challenge that they match NWE's contribution to energy assistance programs this winter.

I have no doubt that industry opponents of my proposal will tell their employees that my idea will cost them their jobs. That would be unadulterated baloney. Just as one of my highest priorities during the NorthWestern Corporation bankruptcy was the preservation of the jobs and benefits of the line employees that actually make the utility work, I believe regulation that preserves a reasonable level of profit in an industry, while preventing profiteering and price gouging, poses no threat to those working in the vital jobs in the natural gas industry. I recall that Montana Power Company warned their employees and stockholders that those of us who opposed their electricity deregulation scheme were endangering the economic future of those employees and stockholders. Funny thing!

I've been advised that my proposal stands no chance of acceptance in the lagoon of special interest cash and cronyism that permeates the Washington, D.C. policy making process. Maybe so, but I am compelled to stand on the side of my Montana constituents in this matter. I am prepared to work with you and your staff to craft the reasonable and workable economic regulation of the natural gas markets.

Greg Jergeson, Montana Public Service Commission
PSC District #1

Thanks from Santa

Dear Editor,

Thank you to all the anonymous donors that have sent money into Santa's account at Farmers State Bank. Since I can't thank you personally, and you know who you are, I want to thank you publicly for your concern and generosity in helping to aid my Santa Program.

We hope to see all of you out at Santa's Shoppe, North Pole Conner Annex, located at Bunky Ranch in Conner. We will be there every Saturday and Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m. beginning the weekend after Thanksgiving.

May God bless you and yours and grant you a joyous holiday season.

"Santa Smut"
North Pole, Conner Annex

Thanks from local soldier

Dear Editor,

I am writing this letter as a reflection of my thanks for the support the Stevensville community gave to me during my deployment in Iraq. I received numerous letters and care packages from members of the Methodist Church, the Junior High and High School, TIP and from many family friends. Your support and prayers were greatly appreciated.

Joseph E. Mahe
Stevensville

Collateral damage

Dear Editor,

The Wish

I went one day to a hospital room,
Where a small boy with brain cancer
Told me, that he was going to die.
I told him he could have a wish.
He thought for a moment, then
Smiling, said that he would like to fly
In a hot air balloon or a glider
To see what the world would be like
Looking down from way up high.

Suddenly his expression changed,
And a large tear fell from each eye.
He said that his best wish would be
To stop using things that cause cancer
So children would not have to die.
I told him it might not be possible
But I hoped that people would try.
We solemnly shook hands on the deal
And I left, so he wouldn't see me cry.

On a sunny day he was given a ride
In a red and blue hot air balloon.
Though he can no longer know it,
It is painfully clear that his "best wish"
Will not be granted any time soon.
Although he received his wish to see
The world from way up in the sky,
Many children, like fragile flowers,
Are still destined to wilt and die.

This poem was written in memory of all children who have died as collateral damage in the "war on weeds" and the war on insects and other pests. In the United States alone, five thousand people a day die from exposure to herbicides, insecticides, fungicides and other chemicals. That is more than one million a year, many of them children. Those "war" casualties are not memorialized except by those who loved them. In the United States alone, 888 million pounds of herbicides, fungicides and other pesticides are used every year. Of the fungicides that have been tested, 90 percent were found to cause cancer, including Chlorothalonil. Chlorothalonil is carried here by rain and snow from other states where millions of pounds are used. Many of the herbicides and insecticides have also been linked to cancers. 2,4-D, one of the most used herbicides in Montana, is linked to several kinds of cancer. Every soil sample tested by a Western Montana environmental testing company contained 2,4-D. Someday, the little boy's "best wish" should be granted, since killing children is illegal.

Judy Hoy
Stevensville

Thanks from HUB

Dear Editor,

The Hamilton United Businesses would like to thank those who participated in the Halloween Parade on October 29, 2005. For those businesses who gave treats to the children, thank you. Thanks to the Hamilton Police Department for their assistance in the parade and in helping to corral the children for the trick-or-treat time. To Chris at the City Street Dept., thanks for all the barriers. It helps to block off the two or three blocks for the children's safety. To Sonja Niedertscheider and Christoph Ammann from Austria (now at the Lab) who volunteered to help put up all the barriers, your aid was appreciated. Hope your photos all turned out well. To Mayor Joe Petrusaitis who noticed the barriers were still up at 5, thanks for taking them down for me. To KLYQ, your photos were wonderful on your web site and having the Radio Ghost with its mysterious driver and music added so much. To John Mikesell, we loved having your green pickup lead the parade with the Chamber gang riding along. The Ravalli Republic and the Bitterroot Star, thank you for the pre-parade publicity. Once again all of you and so many more people helped make this a great parade and so much fun for those participating and those of us who just watch.

Dorothy Rummel and Pat Easley (for)
HUB