The Flathead National Forest says it has received more than 90,000 comments as it considers whether to renew a lease for a 25-square-foot parcel of federal land on Big Mountain that has been home to a statue of Jesus since 1955.
The agency is hearing mostly from people who support the statue and the lease renewal, including 70,000 online comments from supporters of a letter written by the American Center for Law and Justice advocating renewing the lease.
On Tuesday, the agency received another 10,000 comments collected by U.S. Rep. Denny Rehberg’s congressional website, also supporting renewing the lease for the statue, considered a memorial for World War II soldiers.
The Freedom From Religion Foundation opposes the lease renewal.
Thursday is the comment deadline.