Glacier Country News

Today, Representatives Ryan Zinke of Montana and Dan Newhouse of Washington introduced the Ending Endless Litigation Act. This bill aims to address issues arising from the Cottonwood court decision, which has impacted logging and forest management projects in Montana and other western states. Zinke had previously introduced similar legislation during his first term in Congress in 2016.

The Cottonwood decision originated from a lawsuit by the Bozeman-based Cottonwood Environmental Law Center. It mandates that the U.S. Forest Service reinitiate consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for forest management projects within critical habitats for endangered species, such as the Canada lynx. The ruling has negatively affected the logging industry, created a backlog of forest management plans, and impeded wildland firefighting efforts.

"Montana's forests need to be managed in a responsible, science-based way," said Zinke. "For years, the Cottonwood decision has been tying up crucial forest management projects in endless litigation, making it harder for loggers, firefighters, and wildlife managers to protect our communities and feed the economy of Western Montana. This bill takes a commonsense approach by allowing us to get back to the important work of managing our forests."

The proposed bill aims to offer a permanent legislative solution to the Cottonwood decision by requiring re-consultation with wildlife agencies only when there are significant new developments or changes to existing forest management plans. This change is intended to prevent continuous cycles of re-consultation and allow more efficient progress on forest management projects.

Zinke has previously introduced similar bills in 2016 and 2023, both receiving bipartisan support as well as backing from conservation groups but failing to advance beyond introduction. He remains optimistic about achieving progress under a new administration and Senate.