Regulacje i polityka gospodarcza · 3.11.2004

Bitterroot National Forest, Ravailli County, MT, Middle East Fork Project

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act, notice is hereby given that the Forest Service, Bitterroot National Forest will prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement to disclose the environmental consequences of the proposed Middle East Fork (MEF) Project. The proposed project would treat vegetation on approximately 6000 acres in the Middle East Fork of the Bitterroot River watershed to help reduce wildland fire threats and restore fire adapted ecosystems. The need for action in the Middle East Fork area became highlighted by the local community after the wildfires of 2000. This area was identified in the Bitterroot Community Wildfire Protection Plan as a high priority area to reduce wildland fire risk. This plan was developed through community collaborative efforts involving community leaders, organizations, and residents and is reviewed annually. The Forest Service completed a watershed analysis (EAWS) for the Middle East Fork landscape that included a recommendation to reduce the threat from wildfire in the wildland urban interface. Another recommendation was to restore desired and historical vegetation composition and structure using harvest, prescribed fire,