Fuels reduction project planned near Condon

Flathead National Forest is seeking public input on the environmental assessment for the Rumbling Owl Fuels Reduction Project.  

The Rumbling Owl Fuels Reduction Project is located in the Swan Lake Ranger District, Flathead National Forest southeast of Condon, Montana and east of Highway 83. Approximately 75% of the Rumbling Owl project area is in the wildland-urban interface, as defined by the Healthy Forest Restoration Act. 

The project includes commercial timber harvest on up to 4,005 acres and noncommercial vegetation treatments on up to 2,151 acres. The project aims to decrease the risk and severity of future wildland fires, as well as improve fire suppression effectiveness, firefighter and public safety in the wildland-urban interface, and forest health conditions. 

The release of the environmental assessment starts a 30-day comment period for the public to review the document, ask questions about the activities, and provide comments on the project. Those who comment on this or previous scoping period will have standing to object to the project during the pre-decisional administrative review process. A decision on the project is currently set for September of 2025, with implementation that October.  

The Environmental Assessment, as well as maps, project information, and instructions for how to provide comment is available on the project page at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/flathead/?project=64924. 

Written comments may be mailed, submitted digitally on the project webpage, or hand delivered (Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., excluding holidays) to: Chris Dowling, District Ranger, Swan Lake Ranger District, 200 Ranger Station rd., Bigfork, MT 59911. Mailed comments must be postmarked by the end of the comment period. 

Contact Jeff Durkin, project leader, at 406-837-7514 or jeffrey.durkin@usda.gov for questions regarding the project.