BRINNON — A second appeal of the proposed Dosewallips Road bypass has been filed with the U.S. Forest Service.

Bellingham-based Northwest Ecosystem Alliance followed the action of an earlier group which appealed the road plan last week.

Dosewallips Road washed out in a January 2002 storm about 10 miles west of U.S. Highway 101. The road leads to Olympic National Park and Olympic National Forest campgrounds and backcountry.

The earlier appeal was lodged by Olympic Forest Coalition, Olympic Park Associates and the Olympic Peninsula Audubon Society. Also appealing the decision were Bonnie Phillips of Olympia and Kirie Pedersen of Brinnon.

The appellants call for an environmental-impact statement to be developed before the road replacement can begin.

The $556,000 project will clear four acres of trees atop a hill overlooking the washout site for the new road path.

Supporters of the road, including the Quilcene-Brinnon Chamber of Commerce, have said it is vital to the area’s economy and recreation.