MT HJ35

Montana Legislature urges the President, Secretary of Agriculture, U.S. Forest Service Chief, and Congress to end "let it burn" wildfire policies and require aggressive initial attack on all federal land fires

Calls for keeping Forest Service roads open and drivable for public access, forest management, and fire suppression activities

Requests EPA air quality standards be modified to include wildfire smoke, which the resolution identifies as the largest source of air pollution in Montana communities but is currently excluded from attainment determinations

Urges reversal of policies that allow wildfires to burn as a way to bypass NEPA environmental assessments required for controlled burns, which the resolution claims has resulted in hundreds or thousands of additional acres burned

Directs the Secretary of State to send copies to the President, federal officials, all 100 U.S. Senators, House leadership, Montana's Congressional delegation, and governors of 9 western states