Signal Boosters Installed in Montana Wilderness Draw Lawsuit

The US Forest Service unlawfully installed telecommunications infrastructure in Montana’s Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest without adequate environmental review, wilderness preservation groups said in a lawsuit.

The agency sidestepped environmental protocols and public engagement to construct repeater stations across the West Pioneer Wilderness Study Area in the BDNF—an expanse spanning 148,150 acres known for its pristine old growth forests and vital wildlife corridors, according to the suit.

Repeater stations, which amplify weak telecommunications signals to extend their reach, were installed without proper environmental scrutiny, the suit said.

The Forest Service improperly invoked categorical exclusions meant for the repair and maintenance of existing ...