4 counties seek to build roads in ND grasslands

FARGO, N.D. (AP) — Four western North Dakota counties have gone to court seeking authority to build roads in parts of the Little Missouri National Grassland that are now managed as roadless areas.

But conservation advocates say the federal lawsuit is a threat to a plan to designate those areas as wilderness.

The Forum newspaper reports that the federal government has not yet responded to the lawsuit. U.S. Forest Service spokeswoman Babette Anderson says the agency is gathering information and working on a response.

A group called the Badlands Conservation Alliance has pushed a plan since 2008 to permanently protect nearly 40,000 acres in six parcels that are now managed as wilderness areas.

The lawsuit by Billings, Golden Valley, McKenzie and Slope counties seeks authority to establish section-line county roads in the areas.

Tags: badlands conservation alliance, news, updates, fargo, grasslands