Senate Joint Resolution No. [insert number] proposes to release certain wilderness study areas in Montana from consideration for inclusion in the National Wilderness Preservation System. The resolution highlights that the Montana Wilderness Study Act of 1977 required a review of specific lands for their suitability as wilderness, a review period that has long since expired. It notes that many of the designated areas have not been formally recommended for wilderness designation, leading to legal ambiguities and federal litigation regarding land use. The resolution emphasizes the need for Congress to take action to release these lands, which would allow for multiple uses and better management of public resources, thereby supporting local economies reliant on agriculture and timber harvesting.

The resolution calls for Congress to enact legislation that would release all wilderness study areas identified in the Montana Wilderness Study Act and the National Landscape Conservation System, as well as all inventoried roadless areas. It asserts that such actions would fulfill the federal mandate for managing national forests and ensure the rights of Montana citizens to utilize these public lands. Additionally, the resolution urges the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior to evaluate the impacts of land management alternatives on watersheds in these areas, which is crucial for informing Congress's deliberations on the matter.