US Forest Service Chief Gives Update from the Flathead Valley

Montana Congressman Ryan Zinke is hosting the Western Congressional Caucus for meetings this week in the Flathead. We are there for coverage and got to attend a some of the panel discussions on Tuesday. We also got to catch up with US Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz after his keynote presentation.

Earlier this summer, Chief Schultz was here in Montana signing an agreement with Governor Gianforte and the State of Montana to sign a major cooperative agreement which would boost timber harvests and focus on forest health over the next 20 years.

Chief Schultz: "Secretary Rollins has made it very clear that we're going to be working to promote rural America, and this is one way to do that is working with the states to get jobs on the ground and get work done. So we've got multiple states across the West that have seen that Montana agreement as a model, and they're wanting to do the same thing."

We also talked with Chief Schultz about mining, and the importance of getting mines up and running near Libby, Montana.

Aaron Flint: "You mentioned something called the Fast 41 rule when it comes to mining. How can we leverage things like that to get these mines up and running here, especially in the Libby area that's been so hard hit over the past few decades with the loss of mining and timber jobs."

Chief Schultz: "So Hecla has actually made a proposal. They've got two mines that they want to include in that process. So their mine in Libby is one that they've included for exploration. So we are. That process creates a lot of transparency, creates predictability for the mining companies, creates a timeline everybody agrees to. So we should see that delivering results for the companies for America as we move forward."

What about the timber industry in general?

Aaron Flint: "One of the, I thought, the most interesting stories that you shared today- also showing your your Montana background here in the forest, in forestry and more- you talked about St. Regis Montana, and what that forest should be seeing every year, in terms of the board feet that should be coming out of there compared to what had been coming out of there. I guess, tell us- recap what you told this congressional audience today."

Chief Schultz: "So every Forest Plan has an allowable sale quantity, and they also have a sustainable yield. That forest could easily produce 80 million feet a year. Historically, that forest has probably been in the 30 to 40 range, so we're working to get closer to that allowable sale quantity across the board, so that that forest can step up. The problem we have right now is there was a mill in St Regis. That mill is no longer there, right? And so by us providing that supply, that steady supply and predictability, we hope to lure businesses back to make those investments."

What's it cost to get a new mill up and running today? Chief Schultz tells us it is roughly $250 million.

Full audio in the 9a hour podcast below.

Addl coverage via KPAX-TV: Congressional Western Caucus's annual policy summit held in Whitefish