News Releases for April 2002
April 11, 2002
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National Grasslands Grazing Association And County Leaders To Meet With USDA Officials In Washington
BISMARCK, N.D. - The National Grasslands Grazing Association and county leaders will meet with U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) officials later this month to seek assurances that the proposed grasslands management plan will not negatively impact them and the state’s economy.
Officials representing grazing associations and counties impacted by the U.S. Forest Service proposed management plan for the Dakota Prairie Grasslands will meet in Washington, D.C. with USDA Under Secretary for Natural Resources and the Environment Mark Rey.
Ray Clouse, a Sentinel Butte rancher and president of the Little Missouri Grazing Association said of the meeting with Rey: “This trip is necessary to try and be sure that all parties understand the issues from the ground up, from people who are impacted.”
Rey offered to meet with the stakeholders after Governor John Hoeven met with USDA Deputy Secretary Jim Moseley and Under Secretary Mark Rey and expressed his concerns about the plan, specifically its potential for creating a negative economic impact on the state’s ranchers and counties.
According to Hoeven, the plan as proposed contains too much uncertainty, and poses negative consequences for North Dakota’s economy. Hoeven has asked that the Forest Service either fix these problems or rewrite the plan.
“The USDA did not indicate a willingness to rewrite the plan,” Hoeven said. “But Under Secretary Rey offered to meet with leaders of the counties and grazing associations to discuss working together on a solution.”
Hoeven said that Rey expressed the need to work within the Forest Service process and his desire to help resolve the issue.
Bruce Hakanson, of McLeod, a rancher and president of the Sheyenne Valley Grazing Association said: “While we are disappointed that the USDA doesn’t seem willing to rewrite the proposed plan, we’re pleased to have the opportunity to sit down with these officials.”
“Rey indicated that he wanted to meet with the ranchers and county officials in order to move toward a workable solution that they are comfortable with,” said Hoeven.
Dale Patten, McKenzie County Commissioner and chairman of the Heritage Alliance of North Dakota, said of the meeting that Hoeven arranged: “This could be a very positive step in helping us resolve our concerns.”
The North Dakotans will meet with the USDA official on April 29th. The group includes presidents of the four largest grazing associations and county representatives from most of the counties with federal grasslands.
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