JOHNSON ON OTTER CREEK TRACTS

HELENA—Today Secretary of State Brad Johnson released the following statement concerning agenda item 508-8 at the May 19th Land Board meeting. The agenda item, “Otter Creek – Request to start leasing review,” will result in the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation beginning the process that should end with leasing the state’s coal-rich Otter Creek tracts to a developer.

I’m very pleased that, as a Land Board member, I finally have the opportunity to cast a vote in favor of moving forward on Otter Creek. I’m pleased to see this item on the agenda. I and many other Montanans have been working toward this step for many years. The time has come to act.

 

This is a public meeting, and I’m looking forward to hearing input from the many stakeholders who care about common sense development of our natural resources. On Monday I will vote in favor of beginning the leasing review barring the presentation of completely unforeseen information.

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