Newsroom
News Release
USDA Forest Service
Allegheny National Forest
07-May-2004
Local Contact: Steve Miller 814-723-5150
MARIENVILLE RANGER DISTRICT PROPOSES TO SALVAGE 42 ACRES OF BLOWN DOWN WOOD IN HOWE TOWNSHIP, FOREST COUNTY
Marienville, Pa. -- The Marienville Ranger District of the Allegheny National Forest (NF) is proposing to salvage harvest approximately 42 acres of down and damaged trees in Warrants 2812 and 2850, Howe Township, Forest County, Pennsylvania. This area is called the Thad Shanty Project Area, and the harvest areas include 41 acres of partial windthrow (where damaged trees are scattered over the area) and less than one acre of stand replacement windthrow (where most of the trees were wind thrown and/or damaged). These trees were damaged in a severe storm that occurred last July. No new road construction or reconstruction will be needed to salvage these trees.This proposal will achieve the following Forest Plan objectives related to salvage: 1) complete a specific environmental analysis as soon as possible, 2) initiate timely salvage of damaged and downed trees where economically feasible, and 3) provide wood to help meet people's demand for wood products and to contribute to the economic viability of local communities. The public comments are requested as part of the scoping process for public involvement under the National Environmental Policy Act. The decisions to be made are what mitigation measures will be required, if this project were implemented. The District Ranger plans to document this environmental analysis using a limited timber harvest categorical exclusion. This categorical exclusion allows salvage harvest in areas where trees have been damaged by forces such as fire, wind, ice, insects, or disease, and have some economic value as a forest product. Categorical exclusions can be used in areas where no significant adverse effects are anticipated based on past experience with this type of work. Please provide comments specific to the proposed action, or have a direct relationship to the proposed action, and include your supporting reasons for the Responsible Official to consider. Please provide comments relating to these issues or concerns: threatened or endangered species or their critical habitats; Forest Service sensitive species; floodplains; wetlands; municipal watersheds; congressionally designated areas; and Native American religious or cultural sites, historic properties or areas. Comments must be received or postmarked by May 21, 2004. Individuals interested in providing written comments on items of interest or concern should mail them to the "Thad Shanty Salvage Project," USDA-Forest Service, Allegheny National Forest, Marienville Ranger District -- Ridgway Office, ATTN: Leon Blashock, 1537 Montmorenci Road, Ridgway, Pa., 15853. Comments will also be accepted by telephone at 814/776-6172, ext. 124, on Monday to Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and by FAX at 814/772-7387. E-mail comments must be sent to comments-eastern-allegheny-marienville@fs.fed.us, and have the project name in the subject line, your name, and mailing address. Please contact Kevin Treese at 814/776-6172, ext.124, or at ktreese@fs.fed.us, if you have any questions. Additional information is available at: /r9/forests/allegheny/projects/vegetative_management.
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