August 31, 2018 By Email: commissioners@rc.mt.gov Ravalli County Commissioners 215 S 4th Street Suite A Hamilton, MT 59840 Re: Montana Records Request Dear County Commissioners: Campaign for Accountability (“CfA”) makes this request for records pursuant to MT Code Ann. § 2-6-1006. This request includes records of any kind, regardless of format, including paper records, electronic records, e-mails, text messages, audiotapes, videotapes, calendars, letters, faxes, attachments, and/or photographs. Specifically, CfA requests access to and copies of all communications to, from, or between any Ravalli County Commissioner(s) regarding commissioners’ efforts to cajole state officials into investigating Montana conservation organizations. This request excludes communications that have already been posted on the Commissioners Correspondence page of the county’s website.1 This request includes any communications to, from, or regarding any of the following organizations and individuals as well as any communications that mention any of the organizations or individuals. This request is for records from July 1, 2018 to the date the search is conducted. Organizations American Lands Council Backcountry Hunters & Anglers Berman & Co. Center for Organizational Research and Education Green Decoys Montana Conservation Voters Montana Department of Justice Montana Environmental Information Center Montana Outdoors Coalition Montana Wilderness Association Montana Wildlife Federation Montana Mountain Mamas Office of the Governor 1 See https://ravalli.us/425/Commissioners-Correspondence. 611 Pennsylvania Ave., S.E. #337  Washington, D.C. 20003  (202) 780-5750 campaignforaccountability.org Ravalli County Commission August 31, 2018 Page 2 United Property Owners of Montana Individuals Terry Anderson Rob Arnaud Richard Berman Karen Budd-Falen Steve Bullock Will Coggin Shelby DeMars Chuck Denowh Jennifer Fielder Tim Fox Keith Kubista Theresa Manzella Ed Melcher Dave Skinner Fred Thomas Chas Vincent By way of background, on September 15, 2017, Ravalli County Commissioners voted to send a letter to Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT) supporting his efforts to end wilderness protections for two wilderness study areas (WSA) in Ravalli County. 2 The commissioners later endorsed a bill introduced by Sen. Daines, the Protect Public Use of Public Lands Act, which would remove wilderness protections for several WSAs in Montana.3 In response to the proposed rollback of WSAs, on February 5, 2018, several Montana organizations launched a campaign to protect WSAs, called the Our Land Our Legacy (“OLOL”) coalition.4 Following growing support for the coalition’s campaign, on August 1, 2018, County Commissioners sent a letter to Attorney General Tim Fox requesting he open an investigation into seven Montana conservation groups. 5 On August 27, 2018, County Commissioners sent a another letter aimed at the conservation to 2 Letter from Ravalli County Commissioners to U.S. Sen. Steve Daines, September 15, 2017, available at https://ravalli.us/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/5459; Eve Byron, Ravalli County Commission to Hold Second Hearing Regarding Wilderness Letter to Daines Ravalli Republic, January 31, 2018, available at https://ravallirepublic.com/news/local/article_d2629e75-bdd2-54e0-a63c-2f01f32a3926.html. 3 Protect Public Use of Public Lands Act, S.2206 , 115th Congress, December 7, 2017, available at https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/senate-bill/2206/; Rob Chaney, Daines Bill Would Release Wilderness Study Ares for Other Uses, Missoulian, December 8, 2017, available at https://missoulian.com/news/national/govt-and-politics/daines-bill-would-release-wilderness-study-areas-for-otheruses/article_8db30111-c9a1-5061-ac18-efc52322b8ed.html. 4 Campaign Launched for Montana Wilderness Study Areas, Associated Press, February 5, 2018, available at https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/montana/articles/2018-02-05/campaign-launched-for-montanawilderness-study-areas. 5 Letter from Ravalli County Commissioners to Montana Attorney General Tim Fox, August 1, 2018, available at https://ravalli.us/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/5971. Ravalli County Commission August 31, 2018 Page 3 groups to Gov. Steve Bullock requesting that he “require all organizations doing business with the State of Montana to disclose dark money spending.” 6 CfA is a non-profit organization and seeks the requested information to inform and educate the public about how County Commissioners have used public resources to respond to a grassroots effort to protect WSAs. Accordingly, because releasing the records would primarily benefit the public, and agencies are not required to charge fees, CfA requests the records be provided without charge. See MT Code Ann. § 2-6-1006(3). If you decline our request for a fee waiver, please provide a fee estimate pursuant to MT Code Ann. § 2-6-1006(2)(b), and I will submit payment promptly. If possible, CfA would prefer to receive this information electronically via e-mail at dstevens@campaignforaccountability.org. If the documents are to be mailed, please send them to Daniel Stevens, Campaign for Accountability, 611 Pennsylvania Ave SE, #337, Washington D.C. 20003. If you have any questions about this request, please contact me at 202-780-5750 or by email at the address listed above. If CfA’s request is denied in whole or part, please justify all withholdings by reference to specific exemptions of the Act. Thank you for your assistance. Sincerely, Daniel E. Stevens Executive Director 6 Perry Backus, Ravalli County Commission Asks Governor to Investigate Donations to Conservation Groups, Ravalli Republic, August 29, 2018, available at https://ravallirepublic.com/news/local/article_fef9fa67-f091-5c68bd9a-745bb4a51faf.html.