What does the Missouri River Breaks .Org Group have to say about airstrips?

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The following is from www.missouribreaks.org and is a representation of the types of lies the environmental groups use to promote their agenda. This group was formed to promote the Upper Missouri Breaks National Monument in Montana but they have taken on the existing airstrips in the Breaks on BLM land as a lightning rod issue. RAF comments made in green.

A resource management plan with a strong conservation focus will go far to protect a tranquil river, a unique history, a stunning landscape, and irreplaceable wildlife and wild places in the Missouri Breaks National Monument.

April 2004

The Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument needs your help!

Over the last two years thousands of people like you have urged the Bureau of Land Management to protect the wild and remote character of the Upper Missouri Breaks National Monument. Unfortunately, on the eve of the bicentennial of Lewis and Clark's passage through this magnificent landscape, the BLM is moving to adopt a management plan that would actually provide less protection than the area received before it was designated a National Monument.

What the public wants:

• Eighty-five percent of the public comments received by the BLM call for the closure of illegal airstrips in the Monument. For the record, 561 Montanans commented on airstrips and 553 asked that all airstrips be closed.

Completely untrue. They can’t even get their math correct; 553 is 98% of 561.

• Eighty-six percent of the scoping comments received by the BLM call for a minimal transportation system and eighty-four percent call for wildlife habitat protection.
• Eighty-five percent of the public commented that they want the Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument to keep its remote and undeveloped character.

What the BLM is doing instead:

• The BLM proposes to sanction illegal airstrips within the Monument--developed without the required public process and agency approval. If validated, these airstrips will provide special access to the Breaks to those who can afford it-not the average Montanan. The public has made it clear: the Missouri Breaks is a unique place--not one where the drone of airplanes should be allowed to disturb wildlife and destroy the tranquility of this special landscape. In addition, these airstrips will siphon business from airports in gateway communities such as Lewistown, Fort Benton, Malta, Havre, and even Winifred. The Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument is intended to honor the legacy of Lewis and Clark, not the Wright Brothers!

These airstrips are not illegal with the possible exception of Woodhawk. They were put in by prospectors in the 1960’s with the full knowledge and approval of the BLM and have been used by recreational fliers since then. We were told by Gary Slagel (Monument manager) that the Woodhawk strip was an illegal trespass put in by a rancher and it is not included in the 6 strips the BLM has recognized.