Hanna Flats GNA project advancing
A federal court has temporarily halted a northern Idaho logging project in grizzly bear habitat following a lawsuit contending the U.S. Forest Service violated environmental laws.
(Photo courtesy U.S. FOREST SERVICE)
NORDMAN — A decision memo has been signed for the Hanna Flats Good Neighbor Authority project on the Priest Lake Ranger District of the Idaho Panhandle National Forests, according to IPNF Supervisor Jeanne Higgins.
Through a series of public meetings and field trips with the Panhandle Forest Collaborative group as well as many other interested individuals and groups, the Forest Service received comments that were used to improve the project design.
“The Hanna Flats Project is an effective example of what can result by working together with state partners and public collaboratives to achieve objectives identified by the public and the forest plan,” said district Ranger Felipe Cano, thanking everyone who was involved in providing comments, suggestions and information.
Through the Good Neighbor Authority, the Idaho Department of Lands helped plan and will also help implement the Hanna Flats Project.
The project was designed to address insect and disease concerns, hazardous fuels in the wildland urban interface, road maintenance needs, recreation trail improvements, and contribute to the local economy, while integrating multiple restoration activities into the project. The project is within a designated insect and disease infestation priority landscape area that was nominated by Governor Otter and designated by the Secretary of Agriculture under Section 603 of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act.
GNA allows the Forest Service to partner with the state of Idaho to increase restoration outcomes across ownerships. Partnering with IDL on the Hanna Flats project allowed the project to move forward ahead of schedule by providing added capacity to the Forest Service with project preparation and timber sale administration, as well as supporting the environmental analysis process with a combination of state and contracted resources.
Although GNA allows the state to help plan and implement projects on federal lands, all laws, rules, regulations and procedures that the Forest Service must follow still apply. For more information about this project, contact the Priest Lake Ranger Station at (20
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