Relationship to the Administrative Rules for Forest Management (ARM 36.11.401 through 

 36.11.450) DNRC adopted Administrative Rules for Forest Management activities including the 

 management of old growth stands in March of 2003. The new rules do not apply to this project, 

 since this project was scoped prior to the adoption of the Rules (ARM 36.1 1.402(2)). However, 

 since this project proposes an alternative that harvests old growth, the department is required to 

 review it to ensure compliance with the new Rules for biodiversity and old growth. 



THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT (EIS) PROCESS 



EIS Development 



This EIS was prepared in compliance with the Montana Environmental Policy Act (MEPA). 

 MEPA requires State government to include consideration of environmental impacts in its 

 decision making process. It also requires agencies to inform the public and other interested 

 parties of the proposed projects, environmental impacts that might result, and alternative actions 

 that could achieve project objectives. 



Public Scoping 



The initial stage of an EIS is the public scoping process, which is used to inform the public that a 

 State agency is proposing an action and to gather comments on the possible impacts of the 

 project. The scope of this EIS was determined by the professional judgment of resource 

 specialists in DNRC, other State agencies, and comments from the public and other interested 

 parties. 



Public participation was originally solicited in September 1998 by distributing a letter and the 

 initial project proposal to individuals, adjacent landowners, organizations, industries, and 

 agencies. Notices were also placed in the Montana Standard and Philipsburg Mail newspapers. 

 The mailing list of parties receiving initial scoping notices for this project is located in the project 

 file at the Anaconda Unit Office. Public scoping comments were summarized and can be found 

 below. The original comments are also located in the project file at the Anaconda Unit Office. 



Draft EIS (DEIS) 



Following scoping, a DEIS is prepared incorporating public comments relating to the issues that 

 could affect the project. Immediately upon publication, the DEIS is circulated to everyone 

 known to be interested. Comments are accepted for 30 days. 



Final EIS (FEIS) 



DNRC will prepare a FEIS or adopt the DEIS as the FEIS after all public comments to the DEIS 

 are received and evaluated. The FEIS will incorporate new information based on public and 

 internal comments. 



