Forest seeks comment on Whitefish Range project

The Flathead National Forest’s Tally Lake Ranger District seeks public comment on the Environmental Assessment for the Taylor Hellroaring Project north of Whitefish.

The project, first proposed in early 2017, has multiple goals: make the forest more resilient to insect and disease; reduce the risk and severity of major fires; restore rust-resistant whitebark and western white pine; improve recreational opportunities and terrestrial wildlife habitat.

To accomplish these goals, the Forest Service currently plans to conduct commercial timber harvest on approximately 943 acres, and prescribed burns without timber harvest on about 500 acres. The project will also involve building up to 40 miles of new trails and a trailhead.

January 11 begins a 30-day period for the public to review the assessment and provide comments.

Project Leader Deb Bond told the Daily Inter Lake that when this period closes, the Forest Service will review and respond to the comments, and update the plan if necessary. It will then issue a draft decision, beginning an objection-and-response period.

Once that concludes, the agency will either arrive at a finding of no significant impact, and issue a final decision notice allowing the project to proceed, or, if a significant impact is found, complete an Environmental Impact Statement.

The Assessment shows that the property includes habitat for some endangered and threatened species, such as Canada lynx and grizzly bears. Bond said that the Forest Service will also consult with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on protecting these animals after the comment period closes.

The Environmental Assessment and legal notice is available online at: www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=50518. Documents are also available for review at the Tally Lake Ranger Station at 650 Wolfpack Way, Kalispell, MT 59901. Additional information can be obtained from Project Leader, Deb Bond, at the above address, by calling (406)758-5318, or emailing dbond01@fs.fed.us.

Comments should be submitted to Deb Bond by mail at the above address; by fax at (406)758-5367; by telephone at the above number; by email at comments-northern-flathead-tally-lake@fs.fed.us; or orally at the Tally Lake Ranger Station from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday–Friday. If you cite literature, in your comments provide a complete bibliography or a copy of the referenced materials if they are not commonly available. All comments will be considered part of the public record and subject to inspection.

Patrick Reilly can be reached at preilly@dailyinterlake.com, or at 758-4407.