with private ranch holdings, it is anticipated the agreement will alert all 

 personnel of the three agencies to any existing situations where coordinated 

 planning will be helpful. 



Ve in SCS are happy to take part in the Governor's Conference on Mont- 

 ana Rangeland and to support the Montana Rangeland Resource Program. We 

 are well aware that for many reasons we can never reach all the ranch op- 

 erators in Montana. In the first place, there aren't enough of us. Sec- 

 ondly, they will not all ask for our assistance. 



A main goal of the Montana Rangeland Resource Program is to accelerate 

 the improvement of Montana's rangeland resoiirces. One of the most effective 

 ways it can do this is by reaching decision-makers who are not presently 

 being reached by any of the various agencies concerned with range resources. 

 If, by supplementing existing programs and encoizraging all to join hands 

 and work together, improvement in the condition and production of Montana's 

 rangelands is accelerated by the Program, all of us in Montana will be 

 benefited. 



Kelly Hammond 



It is a pleasixre to have the opport\inity to participate in the Governor's 

 Conference on Montana Rangeland. The majority of the 8+ million acres of 

 public land administered by the Bureau of Land Management in Montana falls 

 into the category of rangeland. Not too many years ago, few people took 

 note of actions or proposals affecting the use of these lands. However, 

 that has changed dramatically throughout the entire U.S. Today it seems that 

 just about everybody has an interest in how the National Resource Lands are 

 managed . 



The effect of the widespread interest has been an appreciation of the 

 benefits and the necessity of multiple-use management. The BLM is engaged 

 in a multiple-use management program on the NRL's. We manage these lands 

 for livestock grazing, wildlife habitat, wild horses, outdoor recreation, 

 lands and mineral activities, watershed protection, industrial development, 

 timber production and the preservation of public and environmental values. 



Although the Taylor Grazing Act of June 28, 1954> is the basic legisla- 

 tive authority governing the management and protection of the NRL's, the 



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