[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 86 (Wednesday, June 9, 2010)]
[Senate]
[Page S4741]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    NORTH FORK WATERSHED PROTECTION

  Mr. BAUCUS. Mr. President, I rise today to speak about one of the 
things that I love most about Montana--the North Fork of the Flathead 
River. Everyone who experiences the Flathead Valley in northwestern 
Montana is awed by its pristine waters, larger than life landscapes, 
and breathtaking views. With its headwaters in British Columbia, the 
North Fork of the Flathead River forms the western boundary of Glacier 
National Park--it is one of the last untouched places on our continent.
  For decades, the North Fork has been threatened by oil and gas and 
mining proposals in British Columbia. For the last 35 years, I have 
battled these proposals, one by one. After 35 years of work, we are 
beginning a new chapter of international cooperation in our efforts to 
protect the North Fork. I am very pleased that Conoco Phillips is a 
part of this.
  In February of this year, British Columbia and Montana announced 
their intent to prevent mining, oil and gas, and coalbed methane 
development in the North Fork on the lands they control. Senator Tester 
and I pledged to do our part to establish extra protections south of 
the border, where 90 percent of the North Fork watershed is already 
federally owned.
  So, on March 4, we introduced the North Fork Watershed Protection 
Act, S. 3075, which bans future mining, oil and gas, and coalbed 
methane development on Federal lands in the watershed. The bill enjoys 
support from business and conservation interests alike from all over 
the State, including the Kalispell Chamber, Whitefish Mountain Resort, 
the Billings Rod and Gun Club, and a long list of others. This breadth 
of support shows the importance of the North Fork for Montana's economy 
as well as our State's outdoor heritage.
  There are some current leases in the area that have been dormant 
since the late 1980s, when a court decision found that they were 
improperly issued. Senator Tester and I have been engaged in active 
discussions with the current owners to retire these old leases. On 
April 28, I was proud to announce that ConocoPhillips, the primary 
leaseholder in the North Fork watershed, elected to voluntarily 
relinquish its interest in 108 Federal oil and gas leases covering 
approximately 169,000 acres, representing 71 percent of the leased area 
in the North Fork watershed.
  ConocoPhillips should be commended for this decision and their 
stewardship of this very unique, special place. Their action is further 
evidence of the consensus that exists between the United States and 
Canada and among businesses and conservationists, that the withdrawal 
of these Federal lands from leasing is the only path forward.
  In 1975, during my first term in the House of Representatives, I 
introduced a bill to designate the Flathead River as a Wild and Scenic 
River. It was designated in 1976. For me, that began a lifelong effort 
to protect the North Fork. At that time I said:

       A hundred years from now, and perhaps much sooner, those 
     who follow us will survey what we have left behind.

  This action brings us one step closer to ensuring that that every 
Montanan, every American, and every Canadian who follows us will have 
the opportunity to share our feeling of awestruck wonder that such a 
place still exists, almost untouched by the modern world.

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