STOP the logging/burning of 2,170 acres of the Ger...

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Author: faith smiley

Started: December 10, 2006, 2:05:53 am

Target: r9_hoosier_website@fs.fed.us / Hoosier National Forest

Category: Uncategorized

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ALERT: The Forest Service is trying ONCE AGAIN to log and burn in the German Ridge Area in Perry County, Indiana.

From: Protect Our Woods, Heartwood, GreenFire Consulting Group, Indiana Forest Alliance and Tree of Life Alliance.

Date: November 22, 2006

The proposed “German Ridge Restoration Project” would clearcut 355 acres, shelterwood cut 120 acres, and thin 215 acres for a total of 685 acres of logging. The proposed timber sale also authorizes the building of two miles of new roads, the building of two miles of temporary roads, and the reconstruction of nine miles of existing roads. The project further authorizes prescribed burning of 2,170 acres, in one of the most popular recreation areas in the forest, an area known to be used by Indiana bats, and would likely add even more pollution to an area of Indiana that is already a nonattainment area for particulate matter. This is the first project the Forest Service is attempting to implement under the new Hoosier Forest Plan, which is still pending appeal from several environmental groups and individuals.

The German Ridge project has been stopped two times in the past ten years; the first time in the late 1990’s due to the discovery of Indiana bats in the project area, and the second time, this past summer, due to the Forest Service’s appealing officer’s decision that the environmental impact statement did not include an adequate “cumulative impact analysis,” and that the costs of the road building were not included in the economic analysis.

This is the third time, then, that the Forest Service is attempting to recycle this same, environmentally and economically destructive project. A few weeks ago, the Forest Service issued a “Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement” (SDEIS) to “correct the deficiencies in the last Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS).” In other words, the Forest Service is refusing to throw this project out, but instead, has merely changed its paperwork. The public needs to comment on this new SDEIS.

There is a 45-day comment period on this new Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement (SDEIS) that will end Monday, Dec 4. The document can be viewed by going to http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/hoosier/project_docs/dn_dm/g_ridge_draft_sup_eis.pdf. You can also request a copy by writing the Forest Service at Hoosier National Forest Supervisors Office, 811 Constitution Avenue, Bedford, IN 47421 or by calling (812) 275-5987. You can send your comments to the Forest Service at the address above, or by Fax (812) 279-3423, or emailing r9_hoosier_website@fs.fed.us. Please send your comments into the Forest Service by December 4th!