October 19, 2020

MCV: ‘Decision restores protections’

Federal court invalidates BLM decisions under William Perry Pendley

(BOZEMAN, Mont.) —  Montana Conservation Voters released the following statement from Deputy Director Whitney Tawney in response to federal Judge Brian Morris’s October 16 order invalidating three major land-use plans in Montana implemented by William Perry Pendley, in his capacity as “unlawful” acting director of the Bureau of Land Management. These Resource Management Plans would have opened up hundreds of thousands of acres of public land in Montana to oil and gas development:

“Under Senator Steve Daines’ watch, William Perry Pendley made decisions that would have jeopardized public lands in Montana. Judge Morris’s decision restores protections for some of Montana’s most important public lands and further rejects Pendley’s illegal tenure at the BLM.”

In September, Morris ruled that Pendley’s role as acting director is unlawful and unconstitutional, given that he was never confirmed by the U.S. Senate. Yet Pendley refuses to leave. MCV is demanding that Daines hold an Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing to examine the failures of his committee.

In August, MCV launched a statewide campaign, StopPendley.org, to raise awareness about Pendley’s unlawful tenure at the BLM. The campaign included a petition to U.S. Senator Steve Daines, this powerful TV ad urging Montanans to contact Daines.

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