Hello:
The staff of the Flathead National Forest is pleased to announce the release of the final environmental impact statement (EIS) and draft record of decision for the Flathead National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (referred to as the “forest plan”). The revised forest plan provides direction for managing the forest’s ecological, social, and economic resources for the next 10 to 15 years. The Forest Service is concurrently amending the forest plans of the Helena-Lewis and Clark, Kootenai, and Lolo National Forests to incorporate habitat management direction for the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem (NCDE) grizzly bear population. The Flathead National Forest is proposing to incorporate the NCDE grizzly bear habitat management direction as part of its plan revision process. The Forest Service has prepared a single final environmental impact statement for its forest plan and the forest plan amendments, a draft record of decision for the revised forest plan, and a draft record of decision for the forest plan amendments.
Based upon review of all alternatives and consideration of the effects to the ecological, social, and economic environment, I have decided to select alternative B modified for the Flathead National Forest forest plan. The selected alternative is based on alternative B from the draft EIS, with modifications in response to comments, including over 33,000 comments on the draft EIS, and includes features of all alternatives considered. Alternative B modified is the result of engagement with State and local governments, other Federal agencies, and Indian tribes, as well as robust and unique public engagement efforts since 2013.
Additionally, Forest Supervisors Chris Savage, Tim Garcia, and Bill Avey have released the draft record of decision and final environmental impact statement for forest plan amendments to the Helena-Lewis and Clark, Kootenai, and Lolo National Forests to incorporate habitat management direction from the draft Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem (NCDE) Grizzly Bear Conservation Strategy. Alternative 2 modified from the draft EIS was selected for the forest plan amendments in response to internal and external reviews and public comments on the draft EIS.
Amendment plan components will guide future land management actions related to motorized access and secure core, developed recreation sites, vegetation management, livestock grazing, and energy and mineral development. In general, habitat conditions in the primary conservation area will be maintained at levels that occurred during the time period when the grizzly bear population was known to be growing and increasing in distribution, thus contributing to recovery of the NCDE grizzly bear population. In zone 1 and the demographic connectivity areas, plan components will be added to limit grizzly bear mortality risk and provide for population connectivity to neighboring grizzly bear recovery zones. In a portion of zone 2, a desired condition aimed at providing for genetic connectivity between the NCDE and the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem will be added. A desired condition and a standard regarding food/wildlife attractant storage special order(s) will apply across the primary conservation area, zone 1 including the demographic connectivity areas, and zone 2. New forest plan monitoring items will be added to the forest plans.
The forest plan, amendments, final EIS, and other documentation are available at the following links for your review:
- Flathead National Forest’s plan revision webpage: fs.usda.gov/goto/flathead/fpr;
- Forest plan amendments webpage: fs.usda.gov/goto/flathead/gbamend; and
- USDA Forest Service Northern Region’s species of conservation concern webpage:http://bit.ly/NorthernRegion-SCC.
A legal notice of the initiation of the 60-day objection period was published on December 14, 2017, in the Flathead, Helena-Lewis and Clark, Kootenai, and Lolo National Forests’ newspapers of record: the Daily Inter Lake, Great Falls Tribune, Missoulian, Helena Independent Record, and Billings Gazette, as well as in the Federal Register. The legal and Federal Register notices inform the public that a 60-day period is being initiated during which individuals or entities with specific concerns related to the Flathead National Forest’s forest plan, the NCDE Grizzly Bear Conservation Strategy forest plan amendments for the Helena-Lewis and Clark, Kootenai, and Lolo National Forests, or the associated final environmental impact statement may file objections for Forest Service review prior to the approval of the revised land management plan and the forest plan amendments. This is also an opportunity to object to the regional forester’s list of species of conservation concern for the Flathead National Forest. Additional information about how to participate in the objection process can be found on the websites listed above.
For further information, contact: Project Leader Joe Krueger, 650 Wolfpack Way, Kalispell, MT 59901, (406) 758-5243. Please don’t hesitate to call with questions or comments. And again, thank you for your continued interest in the management of your public lands.
Chip Weber
Forest Supervisor
Flathead National Forest
Forest Supervisor
Flathead National Forest
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