Black Hills National Forest

US Forest Service
Black Hills National Forest
1019 N. 5th Street
Custer, SD 57730
605-673-9200

Telephone for the
Hearing Impaired
605-673-9227

News Release

USDA Forest Service

Black Hills National Forest

Contact: Frank Carroll (605) 673-9216, or email us at r2 blackhills webinfo@fs.fed.us

PLAN WILL CONSERVE SPECIES AND PROTECT COMMUNITIES

CUSTER, SD: OCTOBER 31, 2005

Rocky Mountain regional forester Rick D. Cables today signed the record of decision implementing an amendment to the Black Hills National Forest land and resource management plan.

Called the Phase II Amendment, the new plan includes provisions to conserve species and protect communities, property, and other forest values by reducing fire and insect hazards. Cables signed the decision at his headquarters in Denver, Colorado.

“This plan conserves and improves habitat,” said Craig Bobzien, Black Hills National Forest supervisor and the man who will be directly responsible for implementing the new plan on the ground. “It also does the best job of reducing the high risk of damaging wildfires and insect attacks.” Bobzien said the plan will improve forest health and vigor by reducing tree density and improving forest diversity.

The new plan – evaluated as Alternative 6 (the environmentally preferred alternative) in the final environmental impact statement – applies new objectives and standards to several key areas of forest management and designates four new research natural areas [RNAs], used to study special plant communities. “Sites are chosen because they have special or unique characteristics of scientific interest and importance that are needed to complete the national network of RNAs,” Bobzien said.

Species viability and diversity were among the driving issues of the planning process. “A generally more open forest with lots of different-aged trees and a good mix of meadows and hardwoods provides a good balance for many species over time,” he said.

The direct threat to wild and human communities from large destructive wildfires and the growing problem of insect epidemics were an integral part of the plan. Officials will thin the forest using a combination of tools to reduce the number of trees, making the forest more fire-worthy over time. “We will work to lower the fire hazard around our communities and in the interior forest from high or very high to low or moderate,” Bobzien said.

Cables decision establishes four new RNAs totaling 2,300 acres. The RNA’s are Hay Creek (was Geis Springs), 577 acres in Crook County, WY; Fanny/Boles, 313 acres in Custer County, SD; Canyon City, 588 acres in Pennington County, SD; and North Fork Castle Creek, 798 acres Pennington County, SD.

Alternative 6, the new plan, provided the highest net public benefit, Bobzien said. Cables’ decision contributes to the greatest number of jobs, potential income, and economic return, and revenues from planned activities will be used to improve forest conditions, he said. “This plan helps people in the Black Hills to maintain our good quality of life…and provides for things like timber harvest, hunting, recreation, gathering special plants, and protects cultural and social values,” he said.

Several comments concerned ensuring a supply of timber from the national forest to maintain local mill capacity. Timber sale levels and the allowable sale quantity (ASQ) did not change from the 1997 plan.

Cables said he considered over 5,000 public comments relating to the decision including proposed alternatives from the Biodiversity Conservation Alliance, an environmental group, and the Black Hills Regional Multiple Use Coalition, including the timber industry. The decision reflected ongoing interaction with the Black Hills National Forest Advisory Board, tribes, the States of South Dakota and Wyoming, and local cooperating agencies. The final environmental impact statement included elements or ideas from each of these alternatives, he said.

Cables’ decision does not take effect until 30 days after the Notice of Availability of the Record of Decision and Final Environmental Impact Statement are published in the Federal register, expected to occur in mid-November, officials said.

This decision is subject to administrative review pursuant to 36 CFR 217. Any appeal of this decision must be fully consistent with 36 CFR 217.9, and be filed in duplicate with the Chief within 90 days of the published legal notice.

For more forest information about the plan amendment, an executive summary, the final environmental impact statement, details on how to file an appeal, and other documents and studies related to this decision, visit the Black Hills National Forest website at http://www.fs.fed.us/r2/blackhills/projects/planning/amendments/phase_II/index.shtml.