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May 01, 2004
July 2003 Salvage Timber Sale Continues
The next in the phase of July 2003 salvage CEs has been released. The South of Kane Experimental Forest Windthrow Salvage is apparently not to be confused with the Kane Experimental Forest Windthrow Salvage and apparently we are not to confuse either of these with the FR 191 Salvage which includes salvage logging within the Kane Experimental Forest. We're also not supposed to draw any conclusions about the fact that all three are in response to the same wind event on July 21, 2003. And we're not supposed to conclude this even though they are all being planned at the same time, with the same end result, with the same goals, and even the same scoping language! And I'm sure none of this has anything to do with the benefits to the timber industry gained from having shorter public comment periods and not having to release actual environmental impact statements publicly for actual comment and review (and god forbid that the public may not like they idea!). I'm sure none of this is an attempt to evade public scrutiny over the obviously superb management of the Allegheny National Forest.
Add thick sarcastic drawl to the above and click on the extended text link for the most recent press release. And don't bother trying to find the documents on the Forest Service website because yes, yet again, the Forest Service has issued a press release telling people to download documents from their website that aren't on their website!
MARIENVILLE RANGER DISTRICT PROPOSES TO SALVAGE 18 ACRES OF BLOWN DOWN WOOD SOUTH OF THE KANE EXPERIMENTAL FOREST IN ELK COUNTY Kane, Pa. -- The Marienville Ranger District of the Allegheny National Forest (NF) is proposing to salvage harvest approximately 18 acres of down and damaged trees in Warrants 2686 and 3220, Jones Township, Elk County, Pennsylvania. This area is called the South of KEF Project Area, and the harvest areas are located south of the Kane Experimental Forest (KEF) and east of Forest Road 185. These trees were damaged in a severe storm that occurred last July. No new road construction or reconstruction will be needed to salvage these trees.This proposal will achieve the following Forest Plan objectives related to salvage: 1) complete a specific environmental analysis as soon as possible, 2) initiate timely salvage of damaged and downed trees where economically feasible, and 3) provide wood to help meet people's demand for wood products and to contribute to the economic viability of local communities.
The public comments are requested as part of the scoping process for public involvement under the National Environmental Policy Act. The decisions to be made are what mitigation measures will be required, if this project were implemented. The District Ranger plans to document this environmental analysis using a limited timber harvest categorical exclusion. This categorical exclusion allows salvage harvest in areas where trees have been damaged by forces such as fire, wind, ice, insects, or disease, and have some economic value as a forest product. Categorical exclusions can be used in areas where no significant adverse effects are anticipated based on past experience with this type of work.
Please provide comments specific to the proposed action, or have a direct relationship to the proposed action, and include your supporting reasons for the Responsible Official to consider. Please provide comments relating to these issues or concerns: threatened or endangered species or their critical habitats; Forest Service sensitive species; floodplains; wetlands; municipal watersheds; congressionally designated areas; and Native American religious or cultural sites, historic properties or areas. Comments must be received or postmarked by May 14, 2004.
Posted by jkleissler at May 1, 2004 11:17 AM
Comments
Jim, You may want to try those links again, they worked for me.
Regardless, this whole blowdown harvest thing and the new authorities that the forestry is using bug me. Are they illegal? No...Are they immoral? You tell me
Posted by: fe at May 2, 2004 07:08 PM
These salvage sales are illegal. The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) prohibits the Forest Service from segmenting a project in order to avoid doing a detailed environmental review.
As Jim pointed out, these sales (at least 20 of them) are all responding to the same event, being planned at the same time, with virtually identical goals and scoping notices (just the names of the sales are different).
Yet somehow, the Forest Service is contending that these are all separate projects?? - I would say that these sales are both illegal and immoral. The Forest Service is doing this in order to circumvent any public or environmental review. No matter how you look at it, this is poor public policy.
Posted by: Ryan at May 3, 2004 08:53 PM
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