Draft Plan/DEIS

The Helena – Lewis and Clark National Forest is pleased to announce the release of its draft environmental impact statement (DEIS) for the draft revised Land Management Plan (draft land management plan) for your review and input. The DEIS reflects extensive public participation over the past 3 plus years through working meetings and other public input. The proposed action for the draft plan was updated based on public comments, from which alternatives were developed. The Summary under the DEIS includes a comparison of those alternatives.

We greatly appreciate the commitment of interested participants who have provided important contributions toward the development of the draft land management plan and the DEIS. The documents also reflect a truly interdisciplinary team approach in the consideration of the input received and the directives associated with the 2012 planning rule.

The notice of availability for these documents was published in the Federal Register on June 8, 2018. The comment period closed October 9, 2018. 

The Draft Plan and DEIS are comprised of multiple documents (see below). The Helena – Lewis and Clark National Forest has not identified a preferred alternative or alternatives at this point. The Forest Service plans to identify a preferred alternative in the final environmental impact statement after reviewing and considering the public comments on this draft environmental impact statement.

Draft Plan

• Draft Revised Forest Plan
• Appendices Cover
• Appendix A. Monitoring Plan
• Appendix B. Maps - Please see DEIS Appendix A
• Appendix C. Potential Management Approaches and Possible Actions
• Appendix D. Vegetation Classifications and Descriptions
• Appendix E. Priority Watersheds
• Appendix F. Evaluation of Wilderness Inventory Areas
• Appendix G. Wild and Scenic River Eligibility Study Process
• Appendix H. Northern Rockies Lynx Management Direction, Record of Decision
• Appendix I. Forest Plan Amendments—Incorporating Habitat Management Direction for the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem Grizzly Bear Population
• Appendix J. Scenic Character Descriptions
• Appendix K. Readers Guide

Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS)

• Summary
• Cover and Table of Contents
• Chapter 1
• Chapter 2
• Chapter 3:
  • Introduction
  • Aquatic Ecosystems
  • Air Quality, Fire and Fuels
  • Vegetation (Terrestrial, Old Growth, Snags and Downed Wood, Plant Species at Risk, Pollinators, Invasive Plants)
  • Wildlife (Terrestrial Wildlife Diversity, Species at Risk, Elk)
  • Recreation (Settings, Opportunities, Special Uses, Access, Scenery)
  • Designated Areas (including Wilderness and Recommended Wilderness)
  • Cultural, Historical and Tribal Resources, Lands, Infrastructure
  • Social and Economics
  • Livestock Grazing
  • Timber and other Forest Products
  • Geology, Energy and Minerals
  • Carbon and Climate
  • Index
• Literature
• Glossary
• List of Preparers
• Agency/Organization/Persons to Whom DEIS Sent
• Appendices:
  • Appendix A. Maps
  • Appendix B. Methodologies and Modeling Results
  • Appendix C. Aquatic Ecosystems Best Available Science
  • Appendix D. Terrestrial Wildlife and Plant Species Supplemental Information
  • Appendix E. Recommended Wilderness Analysis Process
  • Appendix F. Landscape Visibility