CHOPS
December 10th, 2002, 10:10 AM
Below is a letter from the Forest Service regarding timber salvage in the Hayman Burn. I know this doesn?t have a great deal to do with keeping land open but I thought that some of you might like to comment on it. I believe that it is a very important land use issue and could have a great impact on future forest management. At the end of the letter is the address to send comments. Note that the deadline is December 23. I apologize for posting the entire letter here vs. providing a link but I can't find a link to the letter or a place to post it.
File Code: 1920/1620
Date: November 20, 2002
Dear Interested Forest User:
The Pike and San Isabel National Forests, Comanche and Cimarron National Grasslands (PSICC) are seeking public comment for the proposed Hayman Timber Salvage project in Douglas, Jefferson, Teller and El Paso Counties in Colorado. There are a variety of restorative treatments planned to enhance the health of the 137,000-acre burn area over the next three to five years. One such treatment is a timber salvage project designed to act quickly to recover the economic value of dead and dying trees in the wildfire area. The project will have more than an economic benefit. It will leave a great number of dead trees in place so they can, over time, deteriorate and add nutrients to the damaged soil while also providing for erosion control.
The operation would involve 10,000 to 50,000 acres of the burn area. The next step is for tree specialists to survey the area for trees to be removed and those to remain. A dead and/or dying tree will be defined as one that meets or exceeds standards for fire damaged Douglas fir and Ponderosa pine. These standards can be found in a brochure posted on the web at: http://www.fs.fed.us/r2/psicc/fire/hayman/ponderosa.htm and, http://www.fs.fed.us/r2/psicc/fire/hayman/douglas_fir.htm. Tree species not specifically described in these brochures will have their survivability determined by specialists on a case-by-case basis. The proposed salvage areas will take into consideration all forest system roads adequate to remove the damaged timber. Temporary roads may be used only were economically and environmentally prudent. No new permanent roads would be constructed for this project.
The proposed action above does not include those areas greater than 35 percent in slope; Wilderness, mapped habitat for Threatened and Endangered Species such as the Preble?s Jumping Meadow mouse, Pawnee Montane Skipper butterfly; Protected Activity Centers (PAC) for Mexican Spotted owl; aquatic, riparian and wetland zones; Inventoried Roadless Areas; the Manitou Experimental Forest; and areas one half mile from the South Platte Wild and Scenic River Study Area.
The proposed timber salvage sale is located approximately 28 miles northwest of Colorado Springs (see map), in the area of the Hayman and Schoonover fires, which burned during the summer of 2002. The Forest Service expects to issue a decision on this project in Spring 2003.
WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU
We are interested in your concerns or issues within this proposed area because your input is important in guiding our planning process. Please be sure that your correspondence relates specifically to this salvage logging proposal.
THE ANALYSIS PROCESS
Issues, concerns and opportunities may come from the public, other government agencies, and USDA-Forest Service personnel. We will use them to refine our proposed action and develop alternatives. The proposed actions will then be analyzed for measurable environmental consequences and the three Pike National Forest District Rangers will decide whether or not to implement. The Rangers are Randy Hickenbottom on the South Platte Ranger District in Morrison, Sara Mayben on the South Park Ranger District in Fairplay and Bill Nelson on the Pikes Peak Ranger District in Colorado Springs.
HOW TO GET INVOLVED
Most of the planning will be completed by the end of Spring of 2003. For your comments to be most useful, please send them by December 23, 2002. Next, there will be a 30-day review prior to a decision. Please address your comments to Pat Hessenflow at:
? Email: phessenflow@fs.fed.us
? Mail: Pat Hessenflow, USDA-Forest Service, Public Affairs Office, 2840 Kachina Dr., Pueblo, CO
? Questions: 719-219-6273
The draft Environmental Assessment (EA) will be distributed to those who respond to this letter. Your participation in the management of the PSICC is greatly appreciated.
Sincerely,
/s/ Joe L. Meade
JOE L. MEADE
Acting Forest Supervisor
cc: Brent O Botts, Thomas Hudson, Sara Mayben, Randy Hickenbottom, Bill Nelson
File Code: 1920/1620
Date: November 20, 2002
Dear Interested Forest User:
The Pike and San Isabel National Forests, Comanche and Cimarron National Grasslands (PSICC) are seeking public comment for the proposed Hayman Timber Salvage project in Douglas, Jefferson, Teller and El Paso Counties in Colorado. There are a variety of restorative treatments planned to enhance the health of the 137,000-acre burn area over the next three to five years. One such treatment is a timber salvage project designed to act quickly to recover the economic value of dead and dying trees in the wildfire area. The project will have more than an economic benefit. It will leave a great number of dead trees in place so they can, over time, deteriorate and add nutrients to the damaged soil while also providing for erosion control.
The operation would involve 10,000 to 50,000 acres of the burn area. The next step is for tree specialists to survey the area for trees to be removed and those to remain. A dead and/or dying tree will be defined as one that meets or exceeds standards for fire damaged Douglas fir and Ponderosa pine. These standards can be found in a brochure posted on the web at: http://www.fs.fed.us/r2/psicc/fire/hayman/ponderosa.htm and, http://www.fs.fed.us/r2/psicc/fire/hayman/douglas_fir.htm. Tree species not specifically described in these brochures will have their survivability determined by specialists on a case-by-case basis. The proposed salvage areas will take into consideration all forest system roads adequate to remove the damaged timber. Temporary roads may be used only were economically and environmentally prudent. No new permanent roads would be constructed for this project.
The proposed action above does not include those areas greater than 35 percent in slope; Wilderness, mapped habitat for Threatened and Endangered Species such as the Preble?s Jumping Meadow mouse, Pawnee Montane Skipper butterfly; Protected Activity Centers (PAC) for Mexican Spotted owl; aquatic, riparian and wetland zones; Inventoried Roadless Areas; the Manitou Experimental Forest; and areas one half mile from the South Platte Wild and Scenic River Study Area.
The proposed timber salvage sale is located approximately 28 miles northwest of Colorado Springs (see map), in the area of the Hayman and Schoonover fires, which burned during the summer of 2002. The Forest Service expects to issue a decision on this project in Spring 2003.
WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU
We are interested in your concerns or issues within this proposed area because your input is important in guiding our planning process. Please be sure that your correspondence relates specifically to this salvage logging proposal.
THE ANALYSIS PROCESS
Issues, concerns and opportunities may come from the public, other government agencies, and USDA-Forest Service personnel. We will use them to refine our proposed action and develop alternatives. The proposed actions will then be analyzed for measurable environmental consequences and the three Pike National Forest District Rangers will decide whether or not to implement. The Rangers are Randy Hickenbottom on the South Platte Ranger District in Morrison, Sara Mayben on the South Park Ranger District in Fairplay and Bill Nelson on the Pikes Peak Ranger District in Colorado Springs.
HOW TO GET INVOLVED
Most of the planning will be completed by the end of Spring of 2003. For your comments to be most useful, please send them by December 23, 2002. Next, there will be a 30-day review prior to a decision. Please address your comments to Pat Hessenflow at:
? Email: phessenflow@fs.fed.us
? Mail: Pat Hessenflow, USDA-Forest Service, Public Affairs Office, 2840 Kachina Dr., Pueblo, CO
? Questions: 719-219-6273
The draft Environmental Assessment (EA) will be distributed to those who respond to this letter. Your participation in the management of the PSICC is greatly appreciated.
Sincerely,
/s/ Joe L. Meade
JOE L. MEADE
Acting Forest Supervisor
cc: Brent O Botts, Thomas Hudson, Sara Mayben, Randy Hickenbottom, Bill Nelson