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Date: December 16, 2008
Contact: Amy Vanderbilt, 406 888-5838

WEST GLACIER, MONT. – Glacier National Park officials announce that the environmental review process has been completed for the park’s Hazard Tree Management Plan. A Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) decision document was signed by Intermountain Regional Director, Mike Snyder on December 4, 2008. The decision was reached after reviewing environmental impacts and considering public comments on a draft plan and environmental assessment released for public review in September 2008.

Hazard trees are those trees that, due to disease or structural failure, are at imminent risk of falling and striking stationary targets.

The Hazard Tree Management Plan provides guidelines to identify and assess hazard trees throughout Glacier National Park and identifies a range of management actions to address hazard trees in all park management zones.  Glacier’s 1999 Final General Management Plan identified and defined four management zones:  visitor service, rustic, day use and backcountry.

While most hazard tree work takes place in the ‘visitor service’ zone, some structures and designated campgrounds in the backcountry zone require protection from damage caused by hazard trees. The Hazard Tree Management Plan also assigns organizational responsibilities for carrying out the parkwide program.

The decision document is available for viewing through Glacier’s planning Web site: http://parkplanning.nps.gov/parkHome.cfm?parkId=61

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