Stanislaus National Forest

News Release

USDA Forest Service
Stanislaus National Forest

Forest Seeking Comments on Christmas Tree Permits

Sonora, CA (May 31, 2007) ... The Forest Service today announced that the Stanislaus National Forest is seeking public comment on a proposal to sell Personal Use Christmas Tree Permits.

Forest resource managers are proposing to enter into a Christmas tree cutting program, determining what should be charged per permit, and deciding the best means to sell permits in the context of providing recreational opportunities for the public’s use of their national forests. The proposed Christmas Tree Permit cutting areas would initially be limited in scope, with the sales conducted on a trial basis.

A preliminary assessment is that this proposal falls within a category of Forest Service actions excluded from documentation in an Environmental Assessment (EA) or Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), and may be documented by issuance of a Decision Memorandum. In order to make a well-informed decision, Forest resource managers are seeking public comments, suggestions, concerns and ideas related to this proposal.

The Forest last proposed to sell Christmas Tree Permits in July of 1999. Regional policy at the time permitted the National Forests to sell Christmas trees to individuals only in locations where the trees were unavailable on a retail basis. That policy has been revisited, and Forests may now elect to sell Christmas Tree permits in the context of expanding winter recreation opportunities.

Comments concerning this proposed action will be accepted until June 29, 2007. This comment period is intended to provide those interested in or affected by this proposal an opportunity to make their concerns known prior to a decision on the proposal.

Written comments may be submitted by mail to:

Stanislaus National Forest
Attn: Christmas Tree Permits
19777 Greenley Road
Sonora, CA 95370.

The office business hours for those submitting hand-delivered comments are: 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding holidays.

Oral comments should be provided at the Responsible Official’s office during normal business hours via telephone at (209) 532-3671 ext. 461 or 225. Electronic comments may be submitted in a format such as an email message, plain text (.txt), rich text format (.rtf), or Word (.doc) to comments-pacificsouthwest-stanislaus@fs.fed.us with subject: Christmas Tree Permits.

For more information contact Jerry Snyder or Pat Kaunert at 209-532-3671, ext. 244 or 245.