PLC Elects New Leadership, Adopts New Policy

The Public Lands Council (PLC) held its 2010 Annual Meeting in Pendleton, Ore., on Sept. 13-14. The newly elected executive committee consists of President John Falen (Nev.), Vice President Brice Lee (Colo.) and Secretary/Treasurer Brenda Richards (Idaho).

PLC members also adopted new and interim policies. An interim policy regarding National Monument designations was adopted. Presidentially designated monuments have locked up millions of acres of land across the West. PLC supports congressional oversight, western states' exemption from designations and reversal of unnecessary designations.

PLC also authorized financial support to the Idaho Wool Growers Association for its appeal of the Payette Forest decision to reduce sheep grazing by roughly 70 percent based on bighorn sheep populations.

Other policies adopted include the "Restore Our Border" plan developed by the Arizona Cattle Growers' Association to improve security along the United States-Mexico border; promotion of grazing as a mitigation tool for other public land uses such as energy development; and opposition to National Heritage Areas, which jeopardize acceptable federal, state, and local land planning.