1.0 Chapter 1: Purpose of and Need for 

 Action 



1.1 Proposed Action: Harvest 



The Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) proposes 

 to salvage harvest timber on State School Trust Lands in the Dirty Ike area. Under 

 Alternative B: Harvest, the department would salvage harvest approximately 

 9,521tons of burned timber from 204 acres to generate a net positive rate of return for 

 the Common School Trust. If significant tree mortality occurs as a result of insect 

 infestation brought about by the fire, there could be an additional harvest of 

 subsequent bug killed timber on another 80 acres of Trust Land. The proposed action 

 would be implemented as early as December 2003 and could be completed by 

 September 2004. These dates are approximate. 



1.2 Location 



The location of the proposed project is: section 2, T12N, R17W, section 6, T12 N, R 

 16 W, and section 12, T12N, R17W, all in Missoula County. The proposed sale is 

 located approximately 36 miles west of Missoula, Montana. (See Appendix A: Figure 

 A-1) 



1.3 Need for the Action 



The lands involved in this proposed project are held by the State of Montana in trust 

 for the support of specific beneficiary institutions. These include public schools, state 

 colleges and universities, and other specific state institutions such as the School for 

 the Deaf and Blind (Enabling Act, February 22, 1889; 1972 Montana Constitution, 

 Article X, Section 1 1). The Board of Land Commissioners and Department of 

 Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) are required by law to administer these 

 Trust Lands to produce the largest measure of reasonable and legitimate advantage 

 over the long run for these beneficiary insfitutions (Section 77-1-202, MCA). 



In August 2003 the Dirty Ike Fire burned 330 acres of Montana State Trust Lands. 

 The merchantable value of burned and insect infected timber declines with the 

 passage of time. To maximize revenue to the school trusts, it is necessary to expedite 

 the salvage of burned or insect infested Umber. Pursuant to ARM 36. 1 1.409 and 

 MCA 77-5-207, the DNRC has conducted the planning process to prepare the salvage 

 harvest in a timely manner. At this time DNRC proposes to salvage harvest 204 acres, 

 however, up to an additional 40 acres may be harvested if significant tree mortality 

 occurs as a result of insect infestation brought about by the fire. 



1.4 Objective of the Action 



In order to meet the goals of the management philosophy adopted through 

 programmatic review in the Administrative Rules for Forest Management (ARM), the 

 Department has set the following specific project objective: 



Dirty Ike Salvage Environmental Assessment 1-1 



