Pennington South Resource Management Project

The Forest Service is seeking comments on the Pennington South Resource Management Project, which involves timber harvesting, prescribed burning, and road management activities on 105,468 acres within the Chippewa National Forest.

Forest Service, Chippewa National Forest

General

Status:Open

Due Date:Jul 13, 2026 12:00 AM

Posted Date:Jun 13, 2026 12:00 PM

Type:Request for Information (RFI)

Level:Federal

Original Solicitation Links

https://www.fs.usda.gov/r09/chippewa/projects/305825

Contacts

Name:Samuel Ainsley

Phone:+12182463457

Address:1235 Division Street, Deer River, MN, USA

Name:Brenda Frenzel

Address:417 Forestry Drive SW, Blackduck, MN, USA

Submission Instructions

Method:Email

Description

The Forest Service is initiating a comment period for the Pennington South Resource Management Project, located within the Chippewa National Forest in Beltrami, Cass, and Itasca Counties, Minnesota. This project aims to align vegetative conditions with the 2004 Chippewa National Forest Land and Resources Management Plan and the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe's (LLBO) Desired Vegetative Conditions (DVCs) as outlined in a 2024 Memorandum of Understanding. The proposed activities are designed to enhance species, structural, and age-class diversity, while supporting multiple uses and providing benefits for current and future generations. Additionally, the project seeks to improve recreation opportunities and visitor experiences. The project area spans 105,468 acres entirely within the LLBO Reservation boundary, with proposed activities exclusively on National Forest System lands. Key proposed activities include extensive timber harvesting across various methods such as coppice with reserves, clearcut with reserves, patch clearcuts, group selection, thinning pine, shelterwood harvest, and commercial fuels reduction. Other proposed actions involve aspen conversions, planting and seeding, site preparation, natural regeneration, fuels management (re-arrangement, crushing, piling), snowshoe hare habitat improvement, temporary road construction, decommissioning of unauthorized roads, road management level changes, and gravel prospecting. Public comments are being accepted from June 13, 2026, to July 13, 2026. To be eligible to file an objection, timely and specific written comments must be submitted during this period. Comments should be within the scope of the proposed action, directly related to it, and include supporting reasons. Eligibility requirements include providing name, postal address, project title, and signature or other identity verification upon request. The complete environmental assessment, appendices, and supporting documents are available on the project website at https://www.fs.usda.gov/r09/chippewa/projects/305825. Written comments can be submitted to Brenda Frenzel, Blackduck District Ranger, 417 Forestry Drive, Blackduck, MN 56630; fax (218) 547-3260; or email: samuel.ainsley@usda.gov, with "Pennington North Project" in the subject line. For paper copies or further information, contact Samuel Ainsley at (218) 246-3457 or samuel.ainsley@usda.gov.