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: Elizabeth Krueger, (307) 283-1361, or email us at r2 blackhills webinfo@fs.fed.us

NEW PROJECT PLANNED TO IMPROVE FOREST HEALTH

SUNDANCE, WY: OCTOBER 28, 2008

The U.S. Forest Service is proposing to reduce fuels, regenerate pine stands, thin the forest, expand meadows and improve aspen groves, and protect watersheds to ensure a continuing supply of clean water.

The Rattlesnake Project Area is located on Bearlodge Ranger District in the Black Hills National Forest.

Ranger Steve Kozel said the purpose of these actions is to provide biologically diverse ecosystems, protect basic resources, and provide for sustained commodity uses like timber production and forage for wildlife and livestock by reducing crown fire hazard and wildfire threats to private property, reducing risk of mountain pine beetle infestations, creating conditions for future timber production, conserving and enhancing big game winter range, enhancing forest structural diversity, and conserving and enhancing older forests.

Details are available on request or at the Black Hills National Forest web site at http://www.fs.fed.us/r2/blackhills/projects/nepa/.
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The Forest Service mission is to manage the National Forests for a variety of uses and benefits while ensuring productivity of the land and protecting environmental quality. The Rattlesnake area provides uses and benefits such as water, forage, recreation, wildlife, and wood.

Alternatives to the proposed action will be developed based on public input. The Forest Service will analyze the proposal’s effects on the environment during the winter of 2008-09. A draft Environmental Impact Statement is scheduled to be issued in the spring of 2009 with a final decision by summer. Activities could begin in 2010.

The Forest Service invites public review of the proposed action. Comments will help develop practical alternatives and conduct appropriate analysis. Written comments should be addressed to Rattlesnake Project, c/o Content Analysis Group, 172 E. 500 S., Bountiful, UT 84010. Fax: (801) 397-1605.

E-mail comments may be sent to bhnf@contentanalysisgroup.com. Please indicate “Rattlesnake Project” in the subject line.

Comments may be hand-delivered to the Bearlodge Ranger District office, 101 South 21st Street, Sundance, Wyoming, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding federal holidays.

Comments are requested by December 3, 2008.

An open house regarding the project is scheduled to take place November 13, 2008, 6:00-8:00 p.m., at the Bearlodge Ranger District office in Sundance.

To find out more or to be placed on a mailing list for the draft Environmental Impact Statement, contact District Ranger Steve Kozel or resource planner Elizabeth Krueger at the Bearlodge Ranger District, (307) 283-1361.

The Rattlesnake Project documents are posted on the internet at www.fs.fed.us/r2/blackhills.

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