Page 8 - Flathead Beacon // 7.29.15

COUNTY BEAT 14 CITY BEAT 14 COURT BRIEFS 15 Newsworthy
Judge Orders Feds to Make Decision on
Badger-Two Medicine Oil Leases
Federal agencies have 21 days to come up with a timeline to make a decision
BY BEACON STAFF AND THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
A judge is demanding the U.S. Depart- ment of Interior expedite a decision on whether or not a Louisiana-based com- pany can begin oil exploration in a cul- turally and environmentally significant area at the edge of Glacier National Park.
On July 27, U.S. District Court Judge Richard Leon said it was unacceptable that the U.S. government has dragged its feet on a decision about oil explora- tion in the Badger-Two Medicine area. The judge however denied Solenex LLC’s request that the government end its ban on energy exploration in an area consid- ered sacred by the Blackfeet Nation.
“No combination of excuses could possibly justify such ineptitude or recal- citrance for such an epic period of time,” the judge wrote.
Solenex LLC of Baton Rouge acquired the 6,200-acre oil and gas lease within the Lewis and Clark National Forest in 1982, but the lease was suspended in 1993. The company sued in 2013 to have the suspension lifted.
Dozens of oil and gas leases have been sold in the area that is at the nexus of Gla- cier Park, the Blackfeet Indian Reserva- tion and the Bob Marshall Wilderness, but over the years, most have been retired or surrendered. Only 18 suspended leases remain, including Solenex’s.
The Badger-Two Medicine area near the Blackfeet Indian Reservation and Glacier National Park. TRISTAN SCOTT | FLATHEAD BEACON
“THE BLACKFEET TRIBE HAS MAINTAINED ALL ALONG THAT THESE PERMITS WERE ISSUED ILLEGALLY, WE DON’T WANT THE GOVERNMENT TO DRAG THEIR FEET ANY LONGER. WE WANT A DECISION.”
-BLACKFEET CHAIRMAN HARRY BARNES
take, the judge said in his ruling.
Soon after the judge issued his deci- sion, Sen. Jon Tester issued a statement urging the federal government to not allow oil exploration in the Badger-Two
Medicine.
“There are certain places in this world
where we just shouldn’t drill,” Tester said. “The Badger-Two Medicine has his- torical, cultural, and recreational signif- icance that you simply can’t put a price tag on. It’s time the Forest Service recog- nizes the consensus of the folks who call this area home and protects this sacred land for future generations.”
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Members of the Blackfeet Nation have long argued that the oil exploration leases were issued illegally because their government was never consulted about them. Earlier this year, the Blackfeet began a public campaign to have the gov- ernment permanently cancel the leases. On July 27, Blackfeet Chairman Harry Barnes said he welcomed the judge’s decision.
“The Blackfeet Tribe has maintained
all along that these permits were issued illegally,” Barnes said. “We don’t want the government to drag their feet any longer. We want a decision.”
Now, the Bureau of Land Manage- ment, U.S. Forest Service and other gov- ernment officials have 21 days from July 27 to come up with an “accelerated and fixed schedule.” The schedule should list the tasks that still need to be completed and how long those tasks are expected to
Ice Den Rates to Increase While Summer Ice Nixed for Now Efforts to turn the Stumptown Ice Den into year-round facility put on hold
BY TRISTAN SCOTT OF THE BEACON
A July 20 Whitefish City Council meeting on whether to raise usage fees at Stumptown Ice Den highlighted the uphill battle of local skating groups try- ing to bring year-round ice to Whitefish.
It also brought to the fore the rink’s des- perate need to dispatch deferred mainte- nance projects, offset those costs through rate increases and find time during the off-season to accomplish the work.
The city parks board recently derailed
the efforts of user groups to expand the season when it voted to cap the ice sea- son at eight months, a decision that did not require council approval. At the July 20 public hearing on an increase in ice rental fees at the rink, hockey players and parents of figure skaters said they wanted more ice time.
Parks and Recreation Director Maria Butts said the Ice Den started operation with a six-month season but increased that to an eight-month season in 2011, and last year the season ran nearly 11 months.
Park Board Chairman Doug Wise said the Stumptown Ice Den was not designed to be a year-round facility, and the com- mercial-grade refrigeration equipment and open-air layout would increase main- tenance costs and run down the facility more quickly.
Wise also said maintaining summer ice would conflict with the pavilion’s designa- tion as multi-use, and interfere with the popular Summer Day Camp for children.
The Ice Den operated with a deficit of $607,000 over the past eight years,
but ran in the black last year with a cash balance of $237, and City Manager Chuck Stearns said the facility should be self-sufficient.
Butts recommended the fee increase for the six-month regular season, which runs approximately October through March, as well as for the two-month extension, allowing the facility to run September through April.
The fee increase will create a reserve fund for maintenance costs.
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JULY 29, 2015 // FLATHEADBEACON.COM