Montana, BLM sign 10-year Good Neighbor Authority agreement
The November 9, 2026 press conference at the Montana State Capitol featured Governor Greg Gianforte, newly sworn-in BLM Director Steve Pearce, and DNRC Director Amanda Kaster announcing and signing a 10-year Memorandum of Understanding expanding the Good Neighbor Authority partnership between DNRC and BLM. The agreement builds on joint work since 2019 to enable landscape-scale forest restoration, hazardous fuels reduction, watershed protection, and timber sales across ownership boundaries on BLM-managed lands. Speakers highlighted benefits including healthier forests, reduced wildfire risk, support for local mills and jobs, revenue reinvestment, and compliance with NEPA. The event also recognized logger and industry advocate Willy Peck with the Governor's Forest Products Award for five decades of contributions to forest management and community collaboration. No media questions were asked before the signing.
Source: Montana Public Affairs Network