As the Plum Creek Timber Co. moves to be a bigger player in the real estate industry, the company is negotiating with the federal government to renew approximately 200 road easements through publicly owned forests in Montana.

Commissioners from several western Montana counties want new restrictions on those easements, to address increased future demand for firefighting, road maintenance and other public services.

But Rey says federal law guarantees Plum Creek access through U.S. Forest Service land. He adds that he has little power over what the company does with its own property.