December 9, 2008

ACTION ALERT!

Black Hills National Forest: Rattlesnake Forest Management Project Threatens Wildlife and Sensitive Plants

Comments needed by December 22, 2008

The US Forest Service is proposing a timber and vegetation management project called the Rattlesnake Project in Crook County, WY approximately 10 miles east of Sundance, WY. This project, as proposed, is in the name of fire prevention and mountain pine beetle reduction.

The 42,171 acre project area contains landmarks that include Cement Ridge, Sand Creek, Boundary Gulch, Rattlesnake Canyon, and Cold Springs Creek. Cement Ridge and the Sand Creek area, in particular, provide scenic viewing and a unique assembly of rare plants and wildlife.

The project proposes a variety of timber and vegetation management schemes including timber harvest, thinning, and prescribed fire. Some of the prescribed fire activities are proposed for parts of the Sand Creek Roadless Area and near housing development or what has been called "wildland-urban interface."

The northern part of the project area is considered critical winter habitat for mule deer. Higher elevations provide habitat for white-tailed deer, elk, and turkeys. Mountain lions are found throughout the boundary fire area, in the northern portion of the project area. There are several northern goshawk territories. Black-backed woodpeckers, brown creepers, Black Hills redbelly snakes, American marten (transitory visitor), and finescale dace are all found within the proposed project area.

There are seven sensitive plant species known to occur in the project area some include lesser yellow lady's slipper, northern hollyfern, and American cranberrybush. BCA opposes the following aspects of this project.

• Backcountry logging of tree stands that add no benefit to the protection of the wildland-urban interface.
• Construction of four new NFS roads totaling around 2.7 miles.
• Disorganized planning of prescribed fire plans in the Sand Creek Roadless Area. All plans for prescribed burns must be in phases and strategically planned.
• A timber harvest of 11,540 acres in an area that has been logged in the past.
• Cutting in the 4B or 4C class treestands, meaning old growth forest age structure.
• Forest Service argument that timber management schemes will have any major impacts on lessening potential pine beetle infestation or wild fire.

To comment on the proposed action write, fax or email comments to:

Rattlesnake Project
c/o Content Analysis Group
172 E. 500 S.
Bountiful, UT 84010

Fax: (801) 397-1605
bhnf@contentanalysisgroup.com

Bearlodge District Ranger Steven J. Kozel is the responsible official for this project.
The comment period for requested comment has been set by December 22, 2008.