The head of the Kootenai National Forest says the decision to drop an appeal of a judge’s order halting three logging projects does not mean the projects have been abandoned.
Acting Supervisor Maggie Pittman says the U.S. Forest Service intends to go ahead with the projects after conducting another environmental analysis.
The Daily Inter Lake reports the additional analysis will address concerns raised by U.S. District Judge Donald Molloy in his ruling on the lawsuit filed by the Alliance for the Wild Rockies.
The environmental group sued in November 2009, saying the logging projects could harm the Cabinet-Yaak grizzly population of approximately 45 bears.
Molloy halted the projects last June, saying the Forest Service plan had deficiencies.