X-YMail-OSG: 7CT8vNYVM1muGciNrrV0PzR4o6uKnj0UcfYxafuyQ__0BQGBrcH_AmAay7pGkQfXYOJbyQ-- Date: Mon, 23 Apr 2007 14:43:48 -0700 (PDT) From: Michael Garrity Subject: Re: Monarch-Neihart Fuels Reduction -- Final Decision To: Tina C Lanier Cc: Jeff Juel Dear Ranger Lanier, I talked to Sara. She said there is no need to talk to us. As long as the pictures match your description in the email, we will support the project. I have only received one email of a map. You said you were going to send them separately because they are so big. Thank you for working with us. We really appreciate it. Sincerely, Michael Garrity Executive Director Alliance for the Wild Rockies Tina C Lanier wrote: Hi Michael -- I'm send this again (without attachments - they are coming in the mail because they are too big & I'm send a copy directly to Sara Jane). Hi Michael & Sara, I promised, as a courtesy, I'd touch bases with you before I sent out my final decision. As I mentioned on the phone, I'm attaching copies of the maps of the units of concern to you. As I understand from our conversations & your latest letter to me, your most important concerns were the following: "To summarize what we discussed, we asked you to drop unit 6b and drop all of 6a but the northern part and we also asked that you drop all of the logging in unit 19 with the exception of along the northern boundary where we asked you to reduce the size of the logging areas by 50% with no logged area bigger than 4 acres because of the impacts on the goshawk. We also asked that you reduce the logging in unit 7 to 200 feet from recreation cabins per Jack Cohen䴜s recommendations to reduce the amount of sediment going into Harley Creek. There was some discussion by Gary Hanvey of building roads and having tractor logging in unit 6. We are opposed to this because of the risk of sediment going into Belt Creek. To avoid sediment we ask that you go forward with the helicopter logging as proposed in the draft decision. We ask that all helicopter units actually be yarded with helicopters or dropped from the sale plan." We have addressed your concerns as follows: Unit 7 (Harley Creek sedimentation issue) -- The treatment areas around each cabin is only 150', not 300' around recreation cabins. So the map does not change. Units 6b & 6a. Although we believe we have used the best science applicable to the goshawk for the Lewis & Clark National Forest, we are willing to drop all of Unit 6b & all of 6a but the northern most part. See the before & after maps below Unit 19 - Again, we feel we used the most appropriate science for goshawk for the Lewis & Clark. However, we are also willing to drop all the polygons (treatments) except those surrounding aspen stands located along the northern property line separating NFS & private property. Five polygons ranging from 3 acres to 4 acres would be treated in our amended proposal. Aspen stands will remain within each polygon, so actual treatment acres within each polygon will be less than what is shown on the maps. See before & after maps. I have tentatively scheduled Wednesday, May 2 at 8am to talk to you on the phone as a follow up to this message. If you don't feel a need for this conversation, please let me know and I will cancel it. I anticipate signing the final decision about the first week in June. I appreciate your willingness to work with us on this very important project. P.S. I will have to send the pictures one at a time since they are pretty large. ------------------------------------------------ Tina Crump Lanier Belt Creek District Ranger Lewis & Clark National Forest (Montana) 406/236-5511 Fax: 406/236-5507