Helena National Forest, Montana, Snow Talon Fire Salvage; Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement

Resumo

The USDA, Forest Service, will prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Snow Talon Fire Salvage. The Snow Talon Fire Salvage EIS will disclose the environmental effects of a salvage harvest of trees burned in the Snow Talon Fire on the Lincoln Ranger District of the Helena National Forest. The 2003 Snow Talon Fire burned 37,706 acres in the Copper Creek, Landers Fork, and Falls Creek drainages, approximately 10 miles northeast of Lincoln, Montana. The proposed action includes commercial harvest of approximately 20 to 25 million board feet of trees over 2700 acres in the wildfire area, roadwork to meet Best Management Practices (BMP) standards, and rehabilitation of 105 acres of jammer trails. Harvest is not proposed within Inventoried Roadless Areas (IRAs), Riparian Habitat Conservation Areas (RHCAs), or Research Natural Areas (RNAs). An EIS will be prepared displaying alternatives and the anticipated effects of the above activities to the resources and human uses of the analysis area.