Missoula County appeals to get forest papers The U.S. Forest Service has withheld information sought by Missoula County officials as they looked into road easement negotiations conducted privately between the federal agency and Plum Creek Timber Co., the county said in documents Friday. Deputy County Attorney D. James McCubbin sent the Forest Service an appeal of its response to an information request the county filed June 25 under the federal Freedom of Information Act. Missoula County has criticized Rey over negotiations in which the government and Plum Creek, the country's largest private landowner, agreed on changes to an agreement about company use of Forest Service roads. Some county commissioners in the state have said the changes would make it easier for Plum Creek to sell timberland for housing or other development, perhaps leaving counties with the high cost of providing public services in remote places. Commissioners say the easements traditionally allowed company use of Forest Service roads only for management of Plum Creek forests. Rey maintains the terms have allowed broader uses. After conducting an investigation requested by Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., the Government Accountability Office said in October that the agreement between Rey and Plum Creek could set a precedent allowing other private landowners to use forest roads for development of subdivisions. The amendment would substantially increase of the value of many Plum Creek lands in Western Montana, according to the GAO, which also found the private talks blocked public involvement....