Finding of No Significant Impact Signed for Many Glacier Wildlife Viewing Plan

Date: June 10, 2011
Contact: Ellen Blickhan, 406 888-5838
Contact: Mary Riddle, 406 888-7898

WEST GLACIER, MONT. – Glacier National Park officials announce the conclusion of the environmental analysis and review process for the Many Glacier Wildlife Viewing Plan. National Park Service Intermountain Regional Director John Wessels signed the Finding of No Significant Impact (the decision document) for the project on May 25, 2011. 

The Many Glacier Wildlife Viewing Plan will protect wildlife and their travel routes while providing visitors with the exceptional wildlife viewing opportunities that make Many Glacier one of the most popular and memorable destinations in the park. The plan will provide additional interpretive and educational resources and will include the enlargement or improvement of pullouts along the road. Some undesignated pullouts will be formalized, and pullouts that are too close to wildlife crossings will be removed. An at grade wildlife viewing terrace will be constructed at the Swiftcurrent Motor Inn parking lot. Funding for the viewing platform will be generously provided by the Glacier National Park Fund. Orientation to the Iceberg/Ptarmigan Trailhead will be improved. A short trail will be built to access the meadow at Apikuni Flat, and a foot and bicycle path will be formalized between the Many Glacier Hotel T-intersection and Swiftcurrent parking lot. The environmental assessment (EA) had originally proposed reducing the speed limit from 45 mph to 35 mph west of the Many Glacier entrance station. Upon further consideration, the reduced speed zone will begin west of the Poia Lake and Apikuni Falls trailhead instead of at the entrance station. 

In reaching the decision to implement the preferred alternative, the National Park Service carefully analyzed the environmental impacts associated with the plan and seriously considered public comments. Most of the comments received on the plan and EA were supportive.

The FONSI is available online on the National Park Service's planning web site,
https://parkplanning.nps.gov/ManyGlacierWildlifeViewingFONSI. 

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