(S.D.) - Mountain Pine Beetle Response Project Public Meeting, May 17th, 2012

By: John Thayer Posted at: 05/17/2012 11:36 AM

Custer, SD – The Black Hills National Forest invites the public to attend an informational meeting regarding the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the Mountain Pine Beetle Response Project.  The meeting will be held on May 17^th, 2012, in the Legion Conference Room, Best Western Ramkota Hotel, 2111 North Lacrosse Street, Rapid City, South Dakota, from 7 to 8:30 p.m.

The Mountain Pine Beetle Response Project proposes treatments on portions of approximately 242,000 acres of forest that are anticipated to be affected by the mountain pine beetle.  This project would manage the vegetation to reduce the threat to ecosystem components from the existing mountain pine beetle epidemic and to reduce hazardous fuels in order to minimize the potential for wildfires. 

“This project will provide options for treating ponderosa pine stands at high risk for mountain pine beetle infestation,” said Dennis Jaeger, Deputy Forest Supervisor, “and will reduce potential for large-scale wildfire on public lands.”

The DEIS discloses the direct, indirect, and cumulative environmental impacts resulting from the proposed action and two alternatives.  At this time, the Forest Service has not identified a preferred alternative.  A 45-day comment period for the Draft Environmental Impact Statement began with publication of the Notice of Availability in the Federal Register on May 11, 2012.

The Mountain Pine Beetle Response Project Draft Environmental Impact Statement is available online at: http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/fs-usda-pop.php/?project=36775

For further information, contact Dennis Jaeger, or Katie Van Alstyne, 1019 North 5th Street, Custer SD 57730, (605) 673-9200.

For more information on the Black Hills National Forest, visit http://www.fs.usda.gov/blackhills.

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