monitor the project area for two years after harvest and will use an Integrated Weed 

 Management strategy to control weed infestations should they occur. 



f) Economics-Implementation of the Action Alternative will provide approximately 

 $225,OOO-$315,0OO in short-term revenue to the School Trust and does not limit the 

 DNRC's options for generating revenue from these sites in the future. 



g) Wildlife-The proposed harvest operations present a minimal likelihood of negative 



impacts to Threatened and Endangered Species. Those potential impacts that do exist have 

 been mitigated to levels within acceptable thresholds. The same is true for those species 

 that have been identified as "sensitive" by the DNRC. The proposed action would not 

 further reduce thermal or security cover, as the proposed harvest would only remove 

 those trees that were killed by a high-intensity fire and are located within 0.5 miles of an 

 open road. The increased sight distances created by the removal of tree boles within 

 harvest units will gradually be reduced over a 20-year time period as the forest 

 regenerates and saplings grow to sufficient height to provide an effective visual screen. 

 The proposed action would also have a low risk of cumulative effects upon big game for 

 the reasons stated above. 



3. PRECEDENT SETTING AND CUMULATIVE IMPACTS- 



The project area is located on State-owned lands, which are "principally valuable for the 

 timber that is on them or for growing timber or for watershed" (MCA 77-1-402). The proposed 

 action is similar to past projects that have occurred in the area. Since the EA does not identify 

 future actions that are new or unusual, the proposed timber harvest is not setting precedence for a 

 future action with significant impacts. 



As stated in the EA, the DNRC had previously scoped, and begim the analysis for, the 

 Donovan Creek Timber Sale. As a result of the Dirty Ike fire, and the proposed Dirty Ike Salvage, 

 work has been discontinued on the Donovan Creek Timber Sale. At some point in the future, the 

 Donovan Creek Timber Sale will be re-scoped and the changes to the existing environment, as a 

 result of the Dirty Ike fire and the Dirty Ike Salvage, will be incorporated into the analysis and 

 environmental review process. 



Taken individually and cumulatively, the identified impacts of the proposed timber sale are 

 within established threshold limits. Proposed timber ssde activities are common practices and 

 none of the project activities are being conducted on fragile or unique sites. 



The proposed timber sale conforms to the management philosophy adopted by DNRC and is in 

 compliance with existing laws, policies, guidehnes, and standards appUcable to this type of action. 



4. SHOULD DNRC PREPARE AN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT (EIS)? 



Based on the following, I find that an EIS does not need to be prepared: 



