SWAN VALLEY - The Draft Decision Notice/Finding of No Significant Impact (Draft DN/FONSI) for the Glacier Loon and Cold Jim Fuels Reduction and Forest Health Projects are now available. The Draft DN/FONSI can be found on the web at: http://www.fs.usda.gov/projects/flathead/landmanagement/projects. Hard copies are available by request or can be reviewed at the Flathead National Forest Supervisors Office, 650 Wolfpack Way, Kalispell, Mont.
Glacier Loon Project
The project area is located in the Swan River Valley, south and west of Condon on the west side of Montana Highway 83 to the south end of Lindbergh Lake. The Responsible Official for the project is Flathead National Forest Supervisor Chip Weber.
Weber decided to implement Alternative D with modifications. This Decision will reduce fuels and improve forest health on approximately 1,397 acres of National Forest lands. Treatments include approximately 1,157 acres of fuels reduction in the wildland urban interface (WUI) and 240 acres outside the WUI using a variety of treatment methods. Best management practices will be implemented on approximately 29.3 miles of haul routes and on approximately 5.9 miles of temporary roads that will be constructed. Temporary roads will be reclaimed following their use. Road decommissioning will also occur on an estimated 8.4 miles of roads. In addition, hand planting would occur on approximately 305 acres.
A site specific amendment to the Flathead Forest Plan to change the Management Area (MA) for a portion of the Glacier Loon Project Area along Lindbergh Lake, including the highly visible portions of the project area from the lakeshore to the slope break totaling approximately 221 acres. The decision would change 213 acres from MA 15, which consists of timberlands where timber management with roads is economical and feasible as currently assigned, to MA 5, which consists of roaded timberlands in areas of high scenic value. The other eight acres would be changed from MA 15C, timberlands with emphasis on white-tailed deer summer range, to MA 5.
The Supplemental EA describes many of the changes made to the 2012 EA with a narrative at the beginning of the document sections and through the use of red text. Updates since the July 2017 version of the Supplemental EA are in blue text.
For further details regarding project activities please review Appendix 1 of the Draft DN/FONSI. To obtain additional information about the project, please contact Project Team Leader Michele Draggoo at 406-758-5269.
Cold Jim Project
The project area is located approximately three miles northwest of Condon. The project area contains approximately 33,289 acres of land within the Flathead Nationa1 Forest in Lake and Missoula counties. The Responsible Official for the project is Flathead National Forest Supervisor Chip Weber.
Weber’s intent is to select Alternative C Modified as the Selected Alternative. Under the Selected Alternative, approximately 740 acres of commercial harvest, 189 acres of pre-commercial thinning, 49 acres of interplanting and three resource enhancement projects would take place. Vegetation management activities will be accessed through an estimated 3.1 miles of temporary road. The Selected Alternative also includes 1.9 miles of road decommissioning.
The Draft DN/FONSI and Supplemental Environmental Assessment can be found on the web at http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=38024. These documents are also available for review at the
Swan Lake Ranger Station, 200 Ranger Station Road, Bigfork, MT, 59911. Additional information can be obtained from Project Leader Sarah Canepa, at the above address, by calling 406-387-3800, or emailing scanepa@fs.fed.us.
How to File an Objection and Timeframe
Objections on the Glacier Loon and Cold Lakes Draft Decision Notice will only be accepted from those who have previously submitted specific written comments regarding the proposed project and the forest plan amendment during scoping or other designated opportunity for public comment in accordance with §218.5(a). Issues raised in objections must be based on previously submitted, timely, specific written comments regarding the proposed project unless based on new information arising after the designated comment opportunities.
Objections, including attachments, must be filed via mail, express delivery, or messenger service: (to Objection Reviewing Officer, USDA Forest Service, Northern Region, P.O. Box 7669, Missoula, MT 59807); FAX to (406) 329-3411; email to appeals-northern-regional- office@fs.fed.us ; or by hand-delivery (Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., excluding holidays at USDA Forest Service, 26 Fort Missoula Road, Missoula, MT 59804). Electronic comments must be submitted in rich text format (.rtf), Word (.doc), or Adobe Acrobat (.pdf).
Objections must be submitted within 45 calendar days following the publication of this notice in the Daily Inter Lake. The publication date in the newspaper of record is the exclusive means for calculating the time to file an objection. Those wishing to object should not rely upon dates or time frame information provided by any other source. The regulations prohibit extending the time to file an objection.
At a minimum, an objection must include the following (36 CFR 218.8(d)) for the Glacier Loon Project and (36 CFR 219.54(c)) for the forest plan amendment to assign management areas. These include: 1) The objector’s name and address, with a telephone number, if available; 2) a signature or other verification of authorship upon request (a scanned signature for email may be filed with the objection); 3) when multiple names are listed on an objection, identification of the lead objector (verification of the identity of the lead objector shall be provided upon request); 4) the name of the proposed project, the name and title of the Responsible Official, and the name(s) of the National Forest(s) and/or Ranger District(s) on which the proposed project will be implemented; 5) a description of those aspects of the proposed project addressed by the objection, including specific issues related to the proposed project if applicable; how the objector believes the environmental analysis or draft decision specifically violates law, regulation, or policy; suggested remedies that would resolve the objection; supporting reasons for the reviewing officer to consider; and 6) a statement that demonstrates connection between prior specific written comments on the particular proposed project or activity and the content of the objection.
Reader Comments(0)