11/14/05 Rancher testifies about NEPA impacts

An Idaho rancher told a congressional committee that the BLM is letting grazing leases expire when it can't complete the paperwork in time because of NEPA requirements. Brenda Richards of Reynolds Creek says extremist organizations and individuals have learned how to manipulate and distort the law to achieve their agendas at the expense of livestock operators. Richards is a member of the Idaho Cattle Association and was the second ICA official in recent weeks to testify in Washington about federal policies which she says can mean 'everything you've worked to build could be taken away from us with the stroke of a judge's pen.' Speaking of judges, Barry Wood has set November 29th as the date for a hearing in Gooding County involving Idaho water law. The Fifth District Judge will look at the constitutionality of conjunctive management, the rule that allows surface and ground water to be managed jointly. Surface water users say that's wrong because Idaho water law grants prior appropriation rights to the senior holders. Finally, the BLM wants to hear from you on its plans to control the spread of noxious weeds and flammable forest and rangeland fuels. The environmental assessment for treating and managing vegetation is out for review and comment until January 9th and there will be a series of public hearings between now and then, including one in Boise. Today's Idaho Ag News Bill Scott