I just listened to the re-broadcast of the OPB's "Think Out Loud" interview
with Interior Secretary Sally Jewell, who just visited Harney County. She
offered thoughtful and well-informed answers to some excellent questions. It's
worth the listen if you can find the podcast. She was frank about the fact that
BLM does not have the funding or manpower to do all they need to do to properly
assess lands before re-issuing grazing permits. She also acknowledged the need
to collaborate with local stakeholders as they set management policies and she
also suggested that the BLM and Forest Service have not done as good a job as
they might have in getting the public to understand that environmental factors
at times dictate management policy changes that impact local use (logging,
grazing etc.).
She was very even and calm in her answers, but her tone changes and becomes
tinged with a bit of emotion when she is asked about the traction being gained
by the land transfer movement. She points out that public lands belong to all
Americans and it was quite clear that this is something that is very important
to her on a deeply personal level.
She started by answering some questions about the low profile that her office
kept during the occupation. She was very complimentary of the work of the local
and federal law enforcement and Harney County Judge Steve Grasty. She avoided
over-simplified or overly optimistic answers on a variety of complex topics.
Dave Irons
Portland, OR
