Black Hills National Forest

News Release

USDA Forest Service

Black Hills National Forest

Contact: Lynn Kolund, (605) 673-1927 or Kelly Honors, (605) 673 - 4853, or email us at r2 blackhills webinfo@fs.fed.us

NORBECK WILDLIFE PROJECT PROPOSES PLAN TO BENEFIT GAME ANIMALS AND BIRDS

CUSTER, SD: DECEMBER 2, 2009

"This is a time of great change in the Norbeck Wildlife Preserve," and Hell Canyon Ranger District Ranger Lynn Kolund is proposing to manage vegetation to benefit game animals and birds in the Norbeck Wildlife Preserve by selectively cutting and burning some trees within a 26,727 acre area. A draft environmental impact statement (DEIS) is now available for public review and comment.

The project area is located approximately 4 miles northeast of the town of Custer, SD and includes most of the Norbeck Wildlife Preserve.

“Our desire is to manage for game animal and bird habitat in a resilient forest which can endure future impacts from agents of change, such as mountain pine beetles and wildfire,” said Kolund.

The purpose of the project is to improve habitat for game animals and birds in the Norbeck Wildlife Preserve and to protect identified values outside of the Wilderness from wildfires.

Prescribed burning is proposed both outside of and inside of the Black Elk Wilderness. Proposed burning outside of the Wilderness would improve and protect habitat for game animals and birds. The prescribed burning within the Wilderness is for the purpose of protecting identified values at risk outside the wilderness. Between 2,158 and 7,502 acres would be treated with prescribed fire.
The DEIS presents a proposed action and three possible alternatives to achieve the project’s purpose. The District prefers Alternative 4 as the best way to achieve results.

The DEIS is available on-line at: http://www.fs.fed.us/r2/blackhills/projects/nepa/public_docs/Norbeck_Wildlife/index.shtml or upon request (hardcopy or CD) from Hell Canyon Ranger District at (605) 673-4853.

Comments may be provided by phone, fax, in person, by mail or e-mail. Hand delivered and mailed comments must be received at the Hell Canyon Ranger District office, 330 Mount Rushmore Road, Custer, SD 57730, during official office hours; 7:30 am – 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday, excluding Federal holidays. Comments may be faxed to 605-673-5461.

Electronic comments must be provided in Word or Rich Text format and be e-mailed to the following address: comments-rocky-mountain-black-hills-hell-canyon@fs.fed.us . In the subject line of e-mailed comments, please put “Norbeck”.

Comments must be submitted by January 11, 2010.

For more information on the Black Hills National Forest visit our website at www.fs.fed.us/r2/blackhills