Enviros using fat argument in appeal

MFMU argues road closures go way too far

By CHRIS PETERSON

Hungry Horse News

Americans are getting fat.

That's why we should close more roads on the Flathead National Forest, a local environmental group is claiming in its appeal of the West Side Reservoir salvage plan.

This may be the first time the waistlines of Americans have ever entered into the discussion of a Forest Service appeal.

"The Forest Service has missed a golden opportunity here to demonstrate that what is good for the bear is also good for human health," Keith Hammer, chairman of the Swan View Coalition, said. "While the South Fork bear population is declining, the American waistline is increasing. Implementing Amendment 19 would not only help secure grizzly bear habitat by limiting motorized vehicles, it would increase opportunities near Kalispell for folks to get the quiet exercise needed to lose weight and reduce stress."

Amendment 19 of the Forest Service plan outlines a strategy for reducing road density on the Forest for grizzly bear security.

Swan View Coalition is not alone in its appeal. Montanans for Multiple Use is also appealing the road closures-but on the other end of the spectrum. The Forest is closing way too many roads, it says.

"The decision to link significant road and trail closures and road obliteration actions to emergency fire salvage in spite of substantial public opposition expressed in scoping and draft environmental impact statement comments was arbitrary and capricious in violation of the Administrative Procedures Act and the National Forest Management Act," MFMU claimed in a prepared release.

MFMU also takes issue with the way the Forest Service has gone about closing roads, claiming the decisions to close roads are, in effect, illegal amendments to the original 1986 Flathead National Forest plan.

MFMU also argues that decommissioning roads in the area will ultimately impact future timber sales in that area.

The reservoir plan calls for salvage of approximately 38 million board feet of burned timber on about 3,169 acres using ground-based, cable and helicopter logging systems. There will be four different salvage sales available for public bid.

The timber was burned in the summer fires of 2003.

MFMU is not appealing the timber sale, which has already started. The timber sale itself is exempt from appeal.

The project includes approximately 30 miles of wheeled motorized restrictions on open roads, 49 miles of road decommissioning and 27 miles of restrictions to wheeled motorized vehicles on trails.

Friends of the Wild Swan is also appealing the decision, but it too, wants more roads closed.

"The South Fork Study found the grizzly bear population to be declining at over 2 percent per year, which will halve the population in just 30 years," said Arlene Montgomery, Program Director of Friends of the Wild Swan. "Permanent, effective closures are the best way to make sure habitat is secure for wildlife."

"The groups' appeal details how the Flathead National Forest is pursuing overzealous timber salvage while purposely not meeting Forest Plan standards for restoring wildlife habitat. Flathead Forest Plan Amendment 19 standards require that some 40 miles of existing road and some 72 miles of trail in the area be closed to motorized vehicles, and that 69 miles of roads be decommissioned to provide adequate grizzly bear and other wildlife security in the fire areas. "The West Side Project would close only 30 miles of road, close only 27 miles of trail, and decommission only 49 miles of road. Rather than meet the Amendment 19 standards, the West Side Record of Decision instead includes three project-specific Forest Plan amendments to excuse the substandard wildlife habitat conditions," both Swan View and Friends of the Wild Swan said in a prepared release.

The appeals can take years to be heard.