Environmental groups and the Helena National Forest have reached a compromise over a timber sale near Lincoln that reduces the amount of timber to be logged by about 85 percent.
The agreement calls for 4 million board feet of timber to be logged from the area burned by the Snow and Talon wildfires two years ago. Initially, the forest sought to log 27 million board feet. However, it didn't get any bids on the sale.
"It's a sale we can live with and they're still getting to cut 4 million board feet, which is a substantial amount by itself," said Michael Garrity, executive director of the Alliance for the Wild Rockies.
Kevin Riordan, who took over the helm of the Helena forest in July, said loggers told him they didn't bid on the sale because of the cost of helicopter logging and the fact that the timber had deteriorated.
"It seemed to be smart to step back and take a look at where we had some room to make changes."
The original project called for logging 2,763 of the 37,700 acres that burned northeast of Lincoln in 2003. However, environmental groups argued that the work would adversely impact bull trout, grizzly bears and lynx and filed a formal notice of intent to sue.
Riordan said the bids on the project were opened Friday and that the forest expects to sign a contract next week. Work will begin shortly after that, he said.The Billings Gazette
