Sierra Nevada
Forest Plan Amendment

Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement

June 2003

The January 2001 Sierra Nevada Forest Plan Amendment (SFNPA) Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) and Record of Decision (ROD) were the result of more than 10 years of regional planning efforts aimed at managing species and ecosystems of the Sierra Nevada bioregion. In March 2003, after a yearlong review of the SNFPA identified changed circumstances and new information, the Regional Forester recommended that the SNFPA be amended to improve protection of old forests, wildlife habitats, watersheds and communities.

The SNFPA Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (Draft SEIS) documents the proposed changes for amending the land and resource management plans for 11 national forests in the Sierra Nevada mountain range and Modoc Plateau in California and parts of Nevada.

The Forest Service's preferred alternative would continue the SNFPA's preservation of all large, old trees, but would more effectively reduce the risk of fire that threatens old forests, habitat for wildlife such as the California spotted owl, and communities.

The potential for small reductions in habitat for California spotted owls in the short term would be minimized by avoiding specific areas that are most important to them. Thinning would greatly reduce the long-term risk of habitat loss from catastrophic fire. These thinnings need to be strategically placed, economically efficient and intensive enough to modify fire behavior. The detailed and prescriptive standards and guidelines in the original SFNPA decision reduced the Forest Service's ability to do that.

The preferred alternative also proposes to reduce SNFPA impacts on recreationists, grazing permit holders and rural communities. The proposal would also fully implement the Herger-Feinstein Quincy Library Group pilot project to the greatest extent consistent with federal law.

The Draft SEIS will be mailed out hard copy beginning June 6. Comments must be received by September 12, 2003. For more information on providing comments on the proposed action, see the cover sheet for the Draft SEIS. Comments may be sent by mail, fax or email:

Mail: SNFPA Draft SEIS P.O. Box 221090 Salt Lake City, UT 84122-1090

FAX: 801-517-1014

E-mail: snfpa@fs.fed.us

The box on the right side of this page contains PDF files of the entire Draft SEIS document, as well as related links such as FAQs, an Executive Summary, the original January 2001 ROD and the Review Team's report. A printable PDF version is also available for your convenience.

To request a printed or electronic copy (CD) of the Draft SEIS, or for more information, contact Kathleen S. Morse, IDT Leader at:

Mail: SNFPA SEIS Team 1323 Club Drive Vallejo, CA 94592

Phone: 707-562-8822

FAX: 707-562-9211

E-mail: snfpa@fs.fed.us

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