Tester statement on North Fork agreement

(U.S. SENATE) – U.S. Senator Jon Tester, chairman of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus, today released the following statement on a reported agreement by The Nature Conservancy and Nature Conservancy Canada to retire oil and gas leases on the Canadian side of the North Fork watershed:

“Thanks to this agreement, American taxpayers won’t be asked to buy out leases in Canada.  That’s critically important, especially after the leases on the American side were retired at no cost to taxpayers.  That’s what I call a victory, and all the credit goes to these two organizations.  This agreement will help keep the North Fork pristine forever, and it will create Montana jobs by preserving the region’s world-class hunting, fishing, hiking and sightseeing.”

The reported agreement is not yet final.