Locally Adopted Environmental Plans and Goals - In June 1996, DNRC began 

 a phased-in implementation of the SFLMP. The SFLMP establishes the 

 Agency's philosophy for the management of forested trust land. The 

 SFLMP philosophy and appropriate resource management standards are 

 incorporated in the design of the proposed project. 



Recreational Activities - Recreational opportunities will continue and 

 not be negatively affected by the proposed project. 



Precedent Setting and Cumulative Impacts - The project area is located 

 on State-owned lands that are "principally valuable for the timber that 

 is on them or for growing timber or for watershed protection" (MCA 77-1- 

 402) . Since the EA does not identify future State actions that are new 

 or unusual, the proposed salvage project is not setting precedence for a 

 future action with significant impacts. 



Taken individually and cumulatively, the proposed activities are common 

 practices and no project activities are being conducted on important 

 fragile or unique sites. 



The proposed salvage project conforms to the mahagement philosophies of 

 DNRC and is in compliance with existing laws, policies, and standards 

 applicable to this type of proposed action. ■«. 



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



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



• The EA adequately addressed the issues identified duriijg project 

 development and displayed the information needed to make the decisions. 



• Evaluation of the potential impacts of the proposed Big Slowdown Salvage 

 indicates that no significant impacts would occur. 



• The ID Team provided adequate opportunities for public review and 

 comment. Public concerns were incorporated into the project design and 

 analysis of impacts. 



Robert L . Sandman 



'Mb<JtiLJL^ 



H' Unit Manager 



Stillwater State Forests - 

 05/7/03 " ■ 



■3- 



