The movement to get the federal government to turn over its land to state and local governments is resurfacing in the American West. Led by a Utah-based group called the "American Lands Council", supporters argue there is a legal and historical basis for this turnover.
The movement resembles the so-called Sagebrush Rebellion of the late 70s. In this feature interview, News Director Sally Mauk talks with University of Montana forestry professor and natural resource policy expert Martin Nie about both the old and new Sagebrush rebels.
Nie says the rebellion in the 70s was in direct response to the passage of several new environmental laws.
[ Martin Nie will give a free public lecture on the new Sagebrush Rebellion Monday evening, December 9th, at 6:30 in the Community Center at the Hamilton city hall. His talk precedes another talk by the president of the American Lands Council, Ken Ivory. Ivory's talk begins at 6:30 Wednesday evening, December 11th, at the Eagles club in Hamilton.]
