Documented Public Support for Protecting All Roadless Lands and Continuing Promised Wildlife Security Programs in the Revised Flathead Forest Plan
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Documented Public Support for Protecting all Roadless Lands and Continuing Promised Wildlife Security Programs in the revised Flathead Forest Plan This PDF documents the 34,409 comments submitted by members of Sierra Club, Wilderness Watch and WildEarth Guardians to the Flathead National Forest during the formal comment period on its draft EIS and draft revised Forest Plan - essentially urging the Flathead to recommend all roadless lands as wilderness and to continue the road decommissioning and wildlife security program promised under the current Plan’s Amendment 19. Lesser, uncounted numbers of similar comments were submitted by members of Swan View Coalition, Friends of the Wild Swan and other citizen initiatives. Page 2 is from the FNF’s Public Reading Room and represents 21,022 comments submitted by members of Sierra Club. Page 3 is the member alert issued online by Wilderness Watch and its Salsalab’s report that 3,788 individuals submitted the suggested letter, with 873 adding personalized comments. Page 4 is also from the FNF’s Public Reading Room, showing WildEarth Guardian’s Marla Nelson submitting a letter “on behalf of 9,599 citizens (see attached names).” Page 5 is also from the FNF’s Public Reading Room. It is the letter submitted by WildEarth Guardians (above) on behalf of citizens and includes a listing of the signors. The FNF’s Public Reading Room is located at: (https://cara.ecosystem-management.org/Public//ReadingRoom?Project=46286) Prepared 11/30/16 by Keith Hammer Date submitted (Mountain Standard Time): 10/2/2016 12:00:00 AM First name: David Last name: Janczyn Organization: Sierra Club Title: Official Representative/Member Indicator: Address1: 4289 Cartulina Rd Address2: City: San Diego State: CA Province/Region: Zip/Postal Code: 92124 Country: United States Email: Phone: Comments: 21,022 form letters were received from Sierra Club with the same content Supervisor Chip Weber, Flathead National Forest 650 Wolfpack Way Kalispell, MT 59901 We need a Flathead National Forest management plan that protects grizzly bears Dear Supervisor Weber, The Flathead National Forest[rsquo]s vast areas of intact wildlands are irreplaceable and treasured by millions of people across the country. Grizzly bears, wolverine, Canada lynx and other imperiled species are an integral part of the Flathead, and the forest plays a pivotal role in ensuring the health of the entire Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem (NCDE). I am concerned that some of the current proposals in the Flathead forest plan could lead to increased motorized use, expanded logging, even mining and drilling in grizzly bear habitat on the Flathead and other national forests in the NCDE. Strong habitat protections are critical in all of the NCDE national forests so that grizzly bears can survive, raise their families and connect to other populations in northern Montana and Greater Yellowstone. For these reasons, I support Alternative C (equivalent to Alternative 3 for the amendment forests), with the additional requirements of adherence to science-based road density standards outlined in the current plan ([ldquo]Amendment 19[rdquo]) to protect grizzly bears, a prohibition on late-season snowmobiling in grizzly denning habitat, and no permitting of new recreation sites or overnight usage in the grizzly bear Primary Conservation Area (PCA). Alternative C would protect the vast majority of remaining roadless areas in the Flathead National Forest by recommending them for wilderness designation, and prohibit mountain bikes and motorized vehicles in recommended wilderness areas. Under Alternative C, grizzly bears would receive higher levels of protection because no [ldquo]temporary[rdquo] public motorized access would be allowed in secure grizzly habitat and no surface mining or drilling would be allowed in the primary conservation areas or adjacent lands. Please take this opportunity to generate widespread, healthy policies for grizzly habitat, health and recovery in the NCDE, choose Alternative C with the above modifications as your final plan. Thank you for your consideration of my comments. Sincerely, david janczyn 4289 cartulina rd san diego, CA 92124 Date submitted (Mountain Standard Time): 10/3/2016 4:53:31 PM First name: Marla Last name: Nelson Organization: Wildearth Guardians Title: Rewilding Attorney Official Representative/Member Indicator: Address1: 107 SE Washington Street Address2: Ste 490 City: Portland State: Province/Region: Oregon Zip/Postal Code: 97214 Country: United States Email: [email protected] Phone: 6514347737 Comments: This comment letter is submitted on behalf of 9,599 citizens (see attached names). WildEarth Guardians will be submitting a second comment letter on behalf of the organization. October 3, 2016 Flathead National Forest Supervisor’s Office Attn: Forest Plan Revision 650 Wolfpack Way Kalispell, MT 59901 Subject: Ensure the Future of the Flathead National Forest for Wildlife and Wild Places Dear Forest Supervisor Weber, From its rugged mountain peaks to the rich thick forests that provide habitat strongholds for grizzly bear, Canada lynx, wolverine, bull trout and other wildlife, the Flathead National Forest’s undeveloped areas and opportunities for solitude make this forest unique. We support revising the Flathead Forest Plan to account for changes in conditions and demands since 1986. But, we are very concerned that the draft plan falls well short of what is necessary to adequately protect wildlife and wild places. The Forest Service must draft a forest plan revision that reflects the best available science. We are especially concerned about the weakened habitat direction proposed for grizzly bears, bull trout, and lynx. Eliminating road density standards established to protect grizzly bears at a time when the species faces potential removal of vital Endangered Species Act protections runs counter to best available science, and common logic. Moreover, as a critical link between the Kootenai, Lewis and Clark, Helena and Lolo National Forests, as well as Glacier National Park, the Flathead has a heightened duty to ensure for habitat connectivity consistent with its planning rules. The draft forest plan should work towards a future of resiliency in the face of climate change. Instead of increasing off-road vehicles and snowmobile use on the forest, the Forest Service should prioritize protecting our wild resources for future generations. This includes designating all roadless areas as recommended wilderness. A resilient future forest must also include a smaller, financially sustainable future road system that fits within the agency’s limited budget and minimizes damage to the forest’s natural resources and wildlife. The draft plan should include deadlines for achieving this smaller road system, built to withstand fluctuating weather patterns due to climate change and ensuring safe public access to our favorite trailheads. The Forest Service should seize this opportunity to chart a new path for the Flathead National Forest that re-establishes a balance of uses and ensures the continued survival and recovery of grizzly bears, bull trout, lynx and wolverine. Page 1 Sincerely, Marla Nelson Rewilding Attorney On behalf of: (starts on next page) Page2 2 A A Bora A Brittany A 690 Sapphire Cir 370 Veron 1 Brookwood Dr Reon, NV 89509 Sterling Hts, MI 48310 Lowell, IN 46356 Christine a L A William A. Mc Guire 1313 mocking bird lane 501 S. Lewis Ave 50 Phelan Ave shadyside, MD 20764 kerville, TX 78028 San Francisco, CA 94112-1821 Suzanne A'becket Ramiro Abal Tamara Abashian 21163 Patriot Way 9405 Fontainebleau Blvd 1500 Tyler Ct Cupertino, CA 95014 Miami, FL 33172 Durham, NC 27701-1260 Ibn-Umar Abbasparker Galen Abbott Marina Abbott 11 John St 835 Carolina St 212 N Colorado Ave Sayreville, NJ 8872 San Francisco, CA 94107 Streator, IL 61364 Peter Abbrecht Kathy Abby Greg Abernathy 1352 Steamboat Run Rd 2535 Paintbrush Dr. 71 Wheat Way Shepherdstown, WV 25443-4005 Twin Falls, ID 83301 Fairplay, CO 80440 Harlan Abernethy Mary Able Lauren Abrahamson 5757 W Main St 535-000 Little Valley Rd 22785 SW Hillsboro Hwy Salem, VA 24153 Mcarthur, CA 96056 Newberg, OR 97132 Gordon Abrams Marie Abramo Jane Abrams 649 Bugbee St Apt 31 30 Raymond Rd 3232 N Locust Street White River Junction, VT 05001- Salem, MA 01970-5325 Denton, TX 76207 2911 Sally Abrams Sarah Abrell Joan Abruzzo 138 Cortland Ave 4374 Stanford St 1815 215th St Apt 4k San Francisco, CA 94110 Carlsbad, CA 92010 Bayside, NY 11360 Angie Absten Deborah Accos Judith Acedo 187 E Cooke Rd 180 Isle of Venice Dr Apt 333 601 S Vulture Mine Rd Apt 27 Columbus, OH 43214 Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301 Wickenburg, AZ 85390 Barbara Achey Caryn Ackerman J Ackerman 25 12th St 6130 55th Avenue Circle E 15781 Hayes Trl Union Dale, PA 18470 Bradenton, FL 34203 Apple Valley, MN 55124 Page 3 Steven Acosta Mary P Acquino Carina Acuna 116 1/2 E 28th St 1615 Morningside Drive 182 E Thomas Jefferson Way Los Angeles, CA 90011 Mount Dora, FL 32757-2518 Sahuarita, AZ 85629 Toni Acuna Margaret Adam Frank Adamick 8145 Tantallon Way PO Box 5197 4824 43rd St Apt 7G Trinity, FL 34655 Bozeman, MT 59717 Woodside, NY 11377 Frank Adamick Carol Adams Cathy Adams 4824 43rd St Apt 7G 2902 Village Rd 8240 highwood way Woodside, NY 11377 Langhorne, PA 19047 orangevale, CA 956623132 Harriet Adams John Adams Laura Adams 1838 Labona 98 Vernwood Dr 226 Lindsey Farm Rd Eugene, OR 97404 Vernon Rockville, CT 6066 Stony Point, NC 28678 Paula Adams Wendy Adams Winn Adams Oak Ave 1111 W. Summit #13 1305 W Clearbrook Dr #3 Pasadena,