Thompson River Road Removed from the Transportation Improvement Plan

The Western Federal Lands Highway Division (WFLHD) of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), in collaboration with the US Forest Service (USFS) and the Montana Department of Transportation (MDT), has removed the Thompson River Road improvement project from the Transportation Improvement Plan.

Basis for the Decision

This action is the result of public and environmental concerns brought to the partnering agencies' attention through the NEPA process. The proposed project was intended to provide improved public access to the Lolo National Forest, improved service access (such as mail delivery and school bus service), and reduced road maintenance. In addition, the project was intended to improve river conditions through reducing sediment loads currently generated by the existing gravel road surfaces. However, during the initial scoping process, a number of social, environmental and political issues were identified. These issues included managing access to properties with the elimination of one of the two roads in the corridor, and social and economic impacts on the surrounding community. During environmental review and consultation, the issue of Grizzly bear "take" arose, in which the proposed project was affected by a recent federal court decision prohibiting "take" of the Grizzly bear in the Cabinet-Yaak Ecosystem. Together, these issues were considered more significant than the potential benefits, and the decision was made to stop the project.

Public Involvement

Two public meetings were held to provide the public with the opportunity to discuss the decision with the project team and to provide feedback on the decision. Meetings were held on October 19, 2005, in Thompson Falls, Montana, and on October 20, 2005, in Libby, Montana. WFLHD communicated the decision to stop project-related activities and announced these public meetings through distribution of a press release  (Acrobat, 37 KB) and public notices. WFLHD also filed a Notice to Rescind (NTR) the Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement associated with the project. The NTR was published in the Federal Register on November 21, 2005.

Several resource studies, concerning hydrological conditions, wildlife, and cultural resources in the region were undertaken as part of the initial project scoping. Those studies are currently being evaluated for use in broader applications. Determinations as to how to proceed with each study are being made on a case-by-case basis.

WFLHD gratefully acknowledges the time and effort given by the community members who attended meetings and provided comments to the agency. Public participation was instrumental in this decision, and WFLHD appreciates the community interest in the project.

Pending the resolution of issues, which factored into the decision to stop the project, the Thompson River Road improvements could once again be reconsidered in the future.