A series of logging projects for about 4,000 acres of timber in Kootenai National Forest have been challenged in federal District Court in a complaint filed recently by the Alliance for the Wild Rockies.

The conservation group believes that road-building associated with the logging projects will reduce the chance of grizzly bear surivival in the Cabinet-Yaak region.

“The Kootenai National Forest is violating the Endangered Species Act with logging and road building that will clearly adversely impact grizzly bears in the area,” the group’s Liz Sedler said. “This is a clear violation of the law, which requires that management of endangered species habitat be based on the best available science.”

Named in the complaint are Paul Bradford, Kootenai National Forest supervisor; Jane Cottrell, acting regional forester for the U.S. Forest Service’s Region 1; and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

The three timber sales are the Grizzly Vegetation and Transportation Management Project, the Miller West Fisher Project and the Little Beaver Hazardous Fuels Reduction Project.

Together, the three projects would require 14 miles of new roads while reopening another 8.5 miles of closed roads and reconstructing 2.4 miles of existing road.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ruled that the logging and road building activities would not adversely impact the grizzlies – one of the primary points being argued by the Alliance.

“There are very few grizzly bears left in the Kootenai National Forest. The Forest Service knows most grizzly bears are killed near roads and now they want to build 14 miles of new logging roads at the cost of millions of dollars and the threat of extinction to the Cabinet-Yaak grizzly bear population,” said Michael Garrity, executive director of the Alliance.

The logging projects are expected to begin next summer.

The issue will go before District Court Judge Don Molloy, who in 2008 blocked a similar timber sale near Troy.

Rebecca K. Smith and Timothy M. Bechtold are serving as attorneys for the plaintiffs.

Project Details

GRIZZLY

• 907 acres of commercial logging.

• 3.2 miles of new temporary road.

• Temporary re-opening of 5 miles of restricted roads.

• Permanent re-opening of 3.5 miles of road to public access.

Miller West Fisher

• 1,896 acres of commercial logging.

• Construction of 3.29 miles of new temporary road.

Little Beaver

• 1,185 acres of commercial logging.

• 5.5 miles of new permanent road construction.

• 2.3 miles of new temporary road construction.

• 2.4 miles of road reconstruction.