CHAPTER 1 - PURPOSE OF THE PROJECT 



PROPOSED ACTION AND OBJECTIVES 



Introduction and Description of the Proposed Action 



The Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC), Anaconda Unit, proposes to 

 harvest timber on State lands to generate revenue for the Montana Public School Trusts. The 

 project area is located approximately 12 miles northwest of Philipsburg, Montana, and involves 

 portions of Sections 5, 8. 17, 21, and 28, Township 8 North, Range 15 West, for a total gross sale 

 area of approximately 1786 acres (see vicinity map. Figure I-l). If a harvest alternative is 

 selected the sawlog volume would range between 1.5 and 3 MMBF of sawlog material. This 

 material would be harvested from approximately 300 acres with various silvicultural treatments. 

 To enable harvesting operations, between 4.38 and 5.06 miles of new road construction would be 

 required. Road reconstruction would involve 2.18 miles, while .1 to .3 miles of temporary road 

 would be constructed. In addition to harvesting sawlogs DNRC proposes to commercially thin 

 up to 1200 acres of 60-80 year old lodgepole pine by harvesting posts and rails. Sawlog 

 harvesting could begin as early as 2004 with all associated activities being complete by the year 

 2009. Harvesting of the post and rail material could begin in 2004 and would be completed by 

 2011. 



Project Need 



Lands involved in this proposed project are held by the State of Montana in trust for the support 

 of specific beneficiary institutions. These include public schools, state colleges and universities, 

 and other specific state institutions, such as the School for the Deaf and Blind (Enabling Act of 

 February 22, 1889; 1972 Montana Constitution, Article X, Section 11). The Board of Land 

 Commissioners and the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation are required by law 

 to administer these trust lands to produce the largest measure of reasonable and legitimate return 

 over the long run for these beneficiary institutions (Section 77-1-202, MCA). 



Project Objectives 



The Department has developed the following specific project objectives: 



1 . Produce the largest measure of reasonable and legitimate return to the trust accounts. 



2. Provide 1.5 to 3.0 MMBF of the Southwestern Land Office (SWLO), DNRC, volume 

 contribution to the annual timber harvest on State trust lands that is required by State 



law (77-5-221 through 223, MCA). 



3. Manage for conditions characterized by the proportion and distribution of forest types 

 and structures historically present on the landscape. 



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