Public: 



Bill Potter of the E Bar L Ranch (neighboring landowner), and Milo Burcham, 

 Research Biologist from the University of Montana 



Other interested parties: 



The Alliance for the Wild Rockies and The Montana Natural Heritage Program 



The project area has no motorized vehicle access to the public. All comments have been 

 considered during project development. The department has developed the project in 

 accordance with the State Forest Land Management Plan. 



2. Other Governmental Agencies with Jurisdiction - Permits Needed 



The Montana DFWP will issue the required 124 Stream Preservation Act permits. The 

 United States Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will issue a Temporary Right-of-Way 

 Permit. 



3. Alternatives Considered 



No-Action Alternative 



Wildfires would continue to be suppressed. The harvesting of timber would be deferred 

 at this time. The affects of continuing wildfire suppression and deferring the harvest of 

 timber at this time would allow existing concentrations of ladder fuels and over-stocked 

 stand conditions to continue to increase, elevating the potential for catastrophic wildfire. 

 Additionally, tree susceptibility to insect attacks and disease outbreaks would continue to 

 increase. Timber stand health and productivity would not be allowed to increase. No 

 revenue would be generated from the sale of forest products at this time. Existing, 

 substandard roads would continue to degenerate and impact water and soil quality 

 primarily through sedimentation and erosion. (See Attachment C, page 3, Effects on 

 Water Quality, No Action Alternative and. Attachment B, page 2, Environmental Effects 

 on Soils). Existing populations of noxious weeds would continue to spread on drier 

 habitats (Attachment B, page 4, Existing Noxious Weeds). Livestock grazing would 

 continue under grazing license # 3062830 in section 14. Fisheries habitat, wildlife and 

 wildlife habitat would see little to no changes as long as wildfires are excluded 

 (Attachment C, page 5, Fisheries Habitat-Effects of Proposed Action, No Action 

 Alternative and Attachment D, Chapter IV, P. 8, Environmental Consequences by 

 Resource). Existing, non-regenerated areas in section 36 would remain. 



Action Alternative 



Wildfires would continue to be suppressed. An estimated 3 million board feet (MMBF) 

 of timber would be harvested from approximately 677 acres. The proposed harvest 

 treatments would emulate disturbances caused by natural wildfire events and increase 



