Endangered Species-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. 



Sensitive Species- The proposed harvest operations present a 

 minimal likelihood of negative impacts to those species that have 

 been identified as "sensitive"^ by the DNRC. Those potential 

 impacts that do exist have been mitigated to levels within 

 acceptable thresholds . 



Big Game- The proposed harvest would reduce winter cover values 

 and increase road density in the project area. However cover 

 values will increase with time as crowns of remaining trees 

 expand and regeneration becomes established. All roads would be 

 closed to all but administrative traffic following completion of 

 harvest . 



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. 



Taken individually and cumulatively, the identified impacts of the 

 proposed timber sale are within established threshold limits. 

 Proposed timber sale 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 in the SFLMP and is in compliance with existing 

 laws, policies, guidelines, and standards applicable 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: 



a) The EA adequately addressed the issues identified during 



project development, and displayed the information needed to 

 make the pertinent decisions. 



