ESA, NEPA ARE FOCUS OF THIRD ANNUAL IDAHO RANGELAND SUMMIT

Washington, DC â?? Collaborative stewardship, protecting natural resources and sustaining ranching livelihoods will be themes of the third annual Idaho Rangeland Summit. The summit, co-sponsored by Idaho Senator Mike Crapo and the Idaho Rangeland Committee, will be held on Tuesday, August 23, 2005, at the Nampa City Council Chambers, 411 Third Street South in Nampa.The Rangeland Summit will include forums featuring Crapo, K. Lynn Bennett, State Director of the BLM; Mary Wagner, Deputy Regional Forester from Region IV; Jeff Foss, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service; David Mabe, State Director of NOAA Fisheries; Terry Gibson, Chairman of the Shoshone-Paiute Tribes, Blaine Edmo, Chairman of the Shoshone Bannock Tribe and Karen Launchbaugh, College of Natural Resources at the University of Idaho.During the summit, the Idaho Rangeland Committee will present a report on actions taken since last yearâ??s summit, detailing progress made and actions taken on public lands related to the Endangered Species Act.The summit brings together leaders of the regionâ??s agencies along with those from interest groups and universities in a collaborative forum to facilitate interagency coordination, identify barriers to collaboration, encourage consistent policies and regulations, and implement workable and realistic solutions for continued and sustainable use of federal and state rangelands in Idaho.The sessions begin with opening statements and project reports at 9:30 a.m. A hearing-style format in the afternoon will include discussions that will be presented to Congress concerning how the National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) has been implemented in Idaho. Panel members include speakers from the Idaho Cattle Association, Idaho grazing officials, conservation groups, Idaho Farm Bureau, Idaho Wool Growers and others followed by an open public microphone discussion. Crapo and other participants will be available to talk to local media during a press conference scheduled at 12:00 Noon. # # #