Judge won’t delay Kootenai logging project

HELENA – An on-again, off-again logging project in the Kootenai National Forest may be going ahead after a federal judge refused to block it during a lawsuit appeal.

U.S. District Judge Donald Molloy said in his order Thursday that the project is based on sound science and should not adversely affect threatened grizzly bear habitat.

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals had issued a two-week block on the Grizzly Project while Molloy was considering the Alliance for the Wild Rockies’ request for an injunction.

The two weeks end Monday.

Associated Press