Settlement Agreement on West Pioneers WSA Snowmobile Grooming Program

Wildlands CPR and Friends of the Bitterroot filed litigation challenging the Beaverhead-Deerlodge's decision to categorically exclude from environmental analysis a five year authorization to a snowmobile club to groom 96 miles of routes within the West Pioneers Wilderness Study Area (WSA).  We alleged violations of the National Environmental Policy Act for lack of analysis and public involvement, as well as the Appeals Reform Act and the Montana Wilderness Study Act. 

The Forest Service agreed to withdraw their authorization in its entirety after the current 2009-2010 grooming season, and will not re-issue the decision until the appropriate analysis and public involvement is conducted.  For the current 2009-2010 winter season, they will continue to allow grooming of the routes shown on the attached map, and prohibit grooming in the northern portion of the WSA, which is valuable wolverine denning habitat.