Public comment sought on over-snow vehicle use in N. Idaho ranger districts

By Reader Staff

Officials with the Idaho Panhandle National Forests have issued their Environmental Assessment for the planned Kaniksu OSV Use Designation Project — which would open certain areas to “over-snow vehicles,”such as snowmobiles — and have opened public comment for the next 30 days to offer feedback on the project.

According to a notice March 29 from IPNF, the project designates OSV trails across the panhandle under the Travel Management Rule” in a balanced approach to protecting wildlife and culturally sensitive areas.”

“We want to thank everyone who submitted comments when we initially shared the project with the public in August 2022,” IPNF officials stated. “Since then, the forest has reviewed public comments, considered the potential environmental effects of the proposed action and prepared an environmental assessment under the National Environmental Policy Act.”

The environmental assessment, supporting documents and comment submission form are all available on the project web page at bit. ly/3JU06Fs.

To submit comments, see the “Get Connected” tab on the right side of the web page.

The project includes opening areas to over-snow vehicle use on the Bonners Ferry, Priest Lake and Sandpoint Ranger Districts (formerly known as the Kanisku National Forest), as well as a small portion of the Coeur d’Alene River Ranger District of the Idaho Panhandle National Forests.

The alternatives propose areas open and closed to over-snow ve-