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County to submit comments on U.S. Forest Service Buffalo Forest Health Project
Summary
Lawrence County will prepare comments on the U.S. Forest Service's Buffalo Forest Health Project after Natural Resources Committee review; the project proposes commercial harvest and aspen regeneration across about 10,000 acres.
Lawrence County commissioners heard a briefing on the U.S. Forest Service's proposed Buffalo Forest Health Project and will prepare county comments after the Natural Resources Committee reviews the plan.
The nut graf: The Forest Service proposal covers about 10,000 acres and emphasizes aspen regeneration, commercial timber harvest on roughly 4,000 acres and potential prescribed burning; the county plans to comment during the single scoping/EA comment period the Forest Service issued.
Michener Jennings (Natural Resources Committee) described the project area as roughly between Highway 134 and the Wyoming line and said the plan focuses on regenerating aspen stands to improve wildlife browse. He said about 4,000 acres were slated for commercial harvest with regeneration and thinning treatments elsewhere; prescribed burning was included as a possible tool but the county expects the Forest Service to use clear objectives and adhere to prescribed-fire regulations.
The county will discuss the proposal at a Natural Resources Committee meeting and prepare comments for the Forest Service by the next county meeting (agenda item planned for March 22). Commissioners noted the process this time appears to be a combined scoping/EA with a single comment period followed by a record of decision.
Ending: The county flagged the Forest Service timeline as condensed and urged clear objectives and regulatory compliance for any prescribed burning; individual citizens may also submit public comments to the Forest Service during the open comment period.
