United States Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz reiterated commitments to expand timber and energy production on federal lands during a speech to the Western Caucus Foundation on Tuesday.

The address came as part of a three-day gathering of representatives and senators from across the United States to Northwest Montana for discussions related to public land management. Schultz’s keynote address at the Lodge on Whitefish Lake on Aug. 19 reaffirmed the Western Caucus Foundation’s commitment to what it terms active multiple-use management of U.S. forestlands. 

“There have been numerous executive orders making it very clear where this administration stands on resource development,” said Schultz. “We are focused on multiple-use management. That’s what we’re doing. We’re back to basics.” 

Schultz said that he intended to follow all the executive orders handed down by President Donald Trump, including a recent mandate to increase American timber production by 25% over the next four or five years.  

More than 30 mills in western Montana have closed since 1990. The companies cited myriad reasons for the closures, including fluctuating lumber prices, labor shortages and increased cost of living, but Schultz focused his own arguments on the need for a consistent timber supply. 

“Industry needs certainty,” he said. “And if there’s not certainty from the government, industry can’t function.” 

Schultz alluded to several strategies to increase timber supplies, including stripping down federal regulations and “driving decision-making down” to the local level. One example of that, he said, is the Shared Stewardship Agreement that the state of Montana and the U.S. Forest Service signed in June. Under the agreement, the state will assume responsibility for managing at least 200,000 acres of federal forestlands in Montana “with a focus on areas with marketable timber.” 

“This is beyond partnership,” Schultz said of the agreement. “This is cooperative federalism where they’re going to be managing federal lands to help us achieve things.” 

Officials are meeting this week to identify the specific area that will fall under state management, said Schultz. 

In addition to resource extraction, Schultz emphasized the Forest Service’s role in wildfire mitigation, including preventative measures like prescribed burning and fuels reduction projects and what he described as a “full suppression mandate” for active wildfires.  

But pressed on the terms of that mandate, Schultz acknowledged the suppression strategy for fires depended on a variety of factors, including topography, nearby structures and weather conditions. In cases where a fire is difficult to reach or likely to burn out naturally, he said the agency may elect for a less aggressive approach that prioritizes monitoring and maintenance. 

He added that the agency intends to move forward with efforts to repeal the so-called “Roadless Rule” in the coming weeks to open more areas for fuels reduction projects. More than 1.1 million acres of forestland in Northwest Montana are currently designated as “Inventoried Roadless Areas” under the rule, which restricts timber extraction and certain development projects. Under current law, road construction in Inventoried Roadless Areas is permissible for “reducing the likelihood of uncharacteristic wildfire.”  

Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins first confirmed plans to remove the designation on June 23. 

Reporter Hailey Smalley can be reached at 758-4433 or [email protected].