Comment period open on Halfway Malin project

May 11, 2017

The Idaho Panhandle National Forests is inviting the public to review and make comments on the Halfway Malin Environmental Assessment (EA). The proposed project area includes roughly 4,860 acres and is located about ten miles up the St. Joe River from Avery, Idaho, between Bird Creek and Eagle Creek. The proposal includes over 800 acres of timber harvest with openings larger than 40 acres, approximately 480 acres of prescribed burning, and tree planting followed by gopher baiting, white pine pruning, and thinning. The proposal also includes road construction for timber harvest, removing a culvert, and decommissioning or storing roads. According to District Ranger Matt Davis, the project was developed to address forest health and to improve resilience to disturbances, such as insect and disease outbreaks and drought. Additional objectives include improving big game forage, improving stream habitat, maintaining wildlife security areas, and contributing wood products for a sustainable forest-products industry. Davis said, "Comments will be used to help refine the analysis and help the Forest Supervisor formulate a draft decision." Davis asks that the comments provided be specific with supporting reasons. The official 30-day public review and comment started May 10 and is open until June 12. Comments may be submitted to the St. Joe Ranger District office, by email to comments-northern-idpanhandle-stjoe@fs.fed.us,  in person, or by phone. For information, please contact the St.Joe Ranger District at the St. Maries office (208) 245-2531 or visit the project website at: http://www.fs.usda.gov/projects/ipnf/landmanagement/projects.