The Department will manage the lands involved in this project according to the philosophy and 

 standards in the Plan, which states: 



Our premise is that the best way to produce long-term income for the trust is to manage 

 intensively for healthy and biologically diverse forests. Our understanding is that a diverse 

 forest is a stable forest that will produce the most reliable and highest long-term revenue stream. 

 In the foreseeable future, timber management will continue to be our primaiy source of revenue 

 and our primary tool for achieving biodiversity objectives. 



Project Objectives: 



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

 in the State Forest Land Management Plan, the Department has set forth the following specific 

 project objectives: 



"^ Harvest 2 to 3 million board feet of sawtimber to generate revenue for the appropriate school 

 grants. 



■^ Improve the long term productivity of the timber stands by increasing vigor, reducing the 

 susceptibility of stands to insect and disease infestations, and regenerate portions of the 

 stands to promote appropriate species mixes. 



v^ Develop a transportation system for the site, utilizing existing roads where possible to 

 minimize new road construction. 



^ Move the forest toward appropriate or desired future conditions characterized by the 

 proportion and distribution of forest types and structures historically present on the 

 landscape. 



II. PROJECT DECISIONS TO BE MADE 



This environmental assessment (EA) will provide the basis for deciding what actions will be 

 taken on the project area lands. The "decision maker" will select one of the alternatives outlined 

 in this EA. The decision maker will consider: 



"^ Does the action alternative presented meet the project objectives? 



"^ Which alternative should be implemented? 



-^ Will the alternative have any significant effects on the human environment? 



~^ Does an Environmental Impact Statement need to be prepared? 



