1.4.1 Objective of the Action 



Generate revenue for the Common School (CS) trust grant by salvage harvesting 

 approximately 9,521 tons of timber killed by wildfires. If significant tree morality 

 occurs as a result of insect infestation brought about by the fire, there could be an 

 additional volume harvested of subsequent hug killed timber. 



1.5 Decisions to be Made 



• Determine if alternatives meet the project objectives. 



• Determine which alternative should be selected. 



• Determine if the selected alternative would cause significant effect(s) to the 

 human environment, requiring the preparation of an Environmental Impact 

 Statement (EIS). 



1.6 Relationship to the Administrative Rules for Forest 

 Management 



On March 13, 2003, the Department adopted Administrative Rules for Forest 

 Management (ARM 36.11.401 through 450). The Department will manage the lands 

 involved in this project in accordance with the Rules. 



The proposed action is limited to specific management activities that are needed to 

 implement the salvage sale and provide resource protection. This assessment 

 documents site-specific analysis and is not a general management plan or a 

 programmatic analysis of the area. The scope of this environmental analysis (EA) 

 was determined through DNRC interdisciplinary analysis and public involvement. 



1.7 History of the Planning and Scoping Process 



Public Involvement - Agencies, Individuals or Groups Contacted 



Comments from the general public, interest groups and agency specialists were 

 solicited in September of 2003. A newspaper legal notice was run in the Missoulian 

 on September 17, 2003. Scoping letters were mailed to 10 organizations and 

 individuals (a list of the organizations/individuals contacted is available in the project 

 file). Written comments were received from the following organizations: Montana 

 Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks and The Ecology Center. 



The following resource specialists were involved in the project design, assessment of 

 potential impacts, and development of mitigation measures: Bob Rich, Supervising 

 Forester, Missoula Unit; Cindy Bertek, Forester, Missoula Unit, Southwest Land 

 Office; Rich Stocker, Forester, Missoula Unit; Mike McGrath, Wildlife Biologist, 

 Southwest Land Office, DNRC; Renee Hanna, Hydrologist, Southwest Land Office, 

 DNRC; Jeff Collins, Soil Scientist, Forest Management Bureau; Pat Rennie, 

 Archeologist, Agriculture and Grazing Management Bureau, DNRC, Helena. 



Dirty Ike Salvage Environmental Assessment 1-2 



