Forest plan for motorized vehicle use faces suit

LEWISTON (AP) - Three environmental groups are suing the U.S. Forest Service, contending a travel management plan for the Clearwater National Forest allows too much access for motorized vehicles and hurts wildlife habitat.

Friends of the Clearwater, Alliance for the Wild Rockies and the Sierra Club filed the lawsuit last week, the Lewiston Tribune reported earlier this month.

The lawsuit alleges the travel management plan completed in 2012 violates a 1987 plan by allowing motorized vehicle use in areas the agency had pledged to protect as prime habitat for elk.

"They are allowing motorized uses in places we think, in their (forest) plan, they promised to the public they would protect," said Gary Macfarlane of Friends of the Clearwater. "These are places that are important for wildlife and in some instances very high-quality watersheds for fish habitat."

The groups also say the agency is violating the National Environmental Policy Act by failing to conduct site-specific analysis of the possible result of allowing motorized use.

Officials with the Clearwater National Forest didn't return calls from The Associated Press.

The environmental groups appealed the travel plan after its release, but the Forest Service denied it.

Officials in Idaho and Clearwater counties also appealed, but for opposite reasons, contending it's too restrictive on motorized travel.

The Forest Service denied that appeal as well. Idaho County Commissioner Skip Brandt said both counties plan to file a joint lawsuit.

The counties argue that the federal agency closed some trails to protect wildlife habitat without providing information showing motorized use was harming wildlife. The counties say the closures hurt rural communities that rely on motorized recreation for income.