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Palisades Timber Sale Project
Media Contact
- John Grassy,
DNRC Public Information Officer - (406) 444-0465
Media Information
March 26, 2012
BILLINGS, Mont. – The proposed Palisades Timber Sale will generate revenue for public institutions and improve forest diversity and vitality over the long term on State Trust Lands west of Red Lodge, according to the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) official managing the project.
Matt Wolcott, Area Manager of DNRC's Southern Land Office in Billings, said preliminary field work for the proposed 1,140-acre timber sale shows mature lodgepole pine in the project area are experiencing mortality from mountain pine beetle.
Over the past five years, timber harvesting and forest management activities on State Trust Lands have produced $20.3 million in base aid for K-12 schools and $9.6 million for classroom technology programs.
Public involvement will continue to be a critical step in the planning and design of the Palisades project, Wolcott said. DNRC conducted a formal 30-day public scoping period in December of 2011 and received 51 comments.
"I understand that people care about this area and have concerns," Wolcott said. "This is an open process, and we'll be incorporating those concerns into the design of the project wherever we can."
Transportation, aesthetics, wildlife, vegetation and erosion were some of the issues raised by the public during scoping.
"Public comments are welcome at any time during the MEPA process, but getting them to us early in the development phase helps us to best address them," said Wolcott.
Comments on the proposed Palisades Timber Sale Project may be submitted via email. Mailed comments should be sent to Bradley Shoemaker, Southern Land Office Forester / ATT: Proposed Palisades Timber Sale Project, Montana DNRC, 1371 Rimtop Drive, Billings MT 59105.
More information on the proposed Palisades Timber Sale Project is available on the DNRC Web site.
Since 2004, Montana's 5.2 million acres of State Trust Land have generated $546 million for K-12 base aid and school facilities and technology improvements. Revenues come through DNRC-managed activities such as timber harvesting, grazing and agricultural leasing, as well as oil, gas and other minerals leasing.
