This is the February Update designed to keep you abreast of developments and activities concerning the implementation of the Herger-Feinstein Quincy Library Group Forest Recovery Act, or HFQLG.

Herger-Feinstein Quincy Library Group Forest Recovery Act
Implementation
February 2001

SIERRA NEVADA FRAMEWORK UPDATE

The Regional Forester signed the Sierra Nevada Forest Plan Amendment (Framework) on January 12, 2001. The Framework will apply to the HFQLG Pilot Project except with regard to riparian protection. The Scientific Analysis Team (SAT) guidelines will continue to be applied for the duration of the Pilot Project. The Framework developed a conservation strategy for the California spotted owl that replaces both the CASPO (California spotted owl) Interim Direction and the mitigation measure of the HFQLG Record of Decision. The Framework affects the overall implementation of the DFPZ (Defensible Fuels Profile Zone), Group Selection and Individual Tree Selection projects. All projects must follow the standards and guidelines of this strategy, which includes canopy closure and large tree retention requirements. The Regional Forester expects that up to 90% of the DFPZs will be implemented; however, the new owl strategy will change the extent of treatments. The Group Selections currently being planned for FY 01 in non-suitable owl habitat are expected to continue without modification. Group Selection treatments within suitable owl habitat will be permitted in the Pilot Project only as part of an administrative study. The study will investigate how owls and features of their habitat respond to certain silvicultural treatments. A team of scientists, led by Peter Stine, from the Pacific Southwest Research Station has been assigned to begin developing a study for the HFQLG Pilot Project.

HFQLG PILOT PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION PLAN

The recent release of the Sierra Nevada Forest Plan Amendment (Framework) Record of Decision is expected to change the current HFQLG Implementation Plan. The seven Ranger Districts are developing and implementing the FY01 program and will be looking at changing the out-year projects as areas are reviewed using the Framework guidelines. The current estimates of annual commodity outputs from the Pilot Project are about 140 million board feet of sawtimber. Employing the new California spotted owl conservation strategy reduces the original expected output of 286 million board feet per year estimated in the HFQLG Plan Amendment.

The plan displays the Pilot Project Area divided into 31 smaller areas called sub networks. These sub networks have been prioritized to meet the objective of completion of the highest priority DFPZ sub networks first. This will enable an independent scientific panel to review and report on whether, and to what extent, implementation of the Pilot Project under the HFQLG Act achieved the goals stated in the QLG Community Stability Proposal. The goals for the QLG proposal include improved ecological health and community stability. The Implementation Plan also contains time frames for completion of site-specific projects needed to accomplish full implementation. The plan, which is a working document and subject to frequent updates based on funding and project planning can be found at the HFQLG Website : www.fs.fed.us/r5/hfqlg/ under Current Activities. Questions about this plan should be directed to Assistant Project Manager Phil Tuma (530-283-7721).

HFQLG PROGRAM OF WORK FOR FISCAL YEAR 2000

All of the seven Environmental Assessments (EA’s) and associated Decision Notices for FY2000 HFQLG projects released have been appealed to the Regional Forester. The Regional Forester’s Appeal Decisions, affirming decisions on six Environmental Assessments (EAs) and reversing the decision on one EA can be found at the following Website: http://www.r5.fs.fed.us/appeals/appeals.htm

To date, six timber sales and six Service Contracts have been awarded. Five Service Contracts are still pending award. Appeal decisions for two timber sales are pending. The five service contracts that are pending award were advertised with proposals due November 2000. However, Earth Island Institute filed a lawsuit in October 2000 against the Forest Service regarding protection of habitat for the California spotted owl and the Pacific fisher. The plaintiffs indicated they would be seeking a preliminary injunction to halt timber sales in the Sierra Nevada Framework planning area. In response to this, the Department of Justice, representing the Forest Service, notified the plaintiffs that the Forest Service would: (1) not offer, advertise, auction, or award any timber sales until March 1, 2001 or 30 days after a Record of Decision is issued on the Sierra Nevada Forest Plan Amendment (Framework), which ever occurs first; and (2) stop all timber sale activities by December 11, 2000 for timber sales already under contract and within the planning area for the Sierra Nevada Forest Plan Amendment. This “moratorium” was lifted on February 7, 2001, due to the denial of the plaintiff’s Motion for Preliminary Injunction.

A table displaying these contracts follows. Service Contracts are agreements between an Operator and the Forest Service to perform activities associated with DFPZ construction. The kinds of activities the Forest Service pays Operators to do include chainsaw thinning, handpiling, hand cutting brush, mechanical brush crushing, mechanical thinning, and fireline construction.

Timber Sales are agreements between a Purchaser and the Forest Service in which the Purchaser pays the Forest Service for the merchantable products removed from the sale area. Merchantable products are commonly sawlogs and chips.

This following table shows the status of FY 00 projects: