Small Town News

Forest-wide Roadside Hazard Tree Removal decision signed

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Helena To help restore public safety to these areas, Helena Forest Supervisor Kevin Riordan signed the decision to begin implementing the Forest-wide Roadside Hazard Tree Removal and Fuels Reduction Project along specified roadways, and around developed recreation and administrative sites across the Helena National Forest.

The project is in response to the mountain pine beetle epidemic and numerous standing dead and dying trees that are hazardous and pose a significant threat to public safety.

"Although there is an inherent risk to venturing into the forest and other outdoor areas, as resource and land managers we need to try to provide safe opportunities for visitors to explore their national forest," Riordan said. "If we do not mitigate these hazards, we will have to look at other options, one of which will be to close these roads and sites."

The project will occur on about 491 miles of National Forest System (NFS) roadways, which equates to about 9,415 acres. Hazard trees will be felled and or removed up to 125 feet from the edges of specified open roadways located on the Lincoln Ranger District and up to 100 feet from the edges of specified roadways located on the Helena and Townsend Ranger District.

Healthy, live trees that do not pose a safety threat to people or property will be retained; however, depending on the number of hazard trees in an area, certain places may resemble a clearcut with scattered regeneration.

"Due to the mountain pine beetle epidemic, most of these areas have experienced extensive tree mortality," Riordan said. Many of these spots will look significantly different in that there are very few healthy, live trees left among the dead trees. It's important to remember, however, that once these areas are treated, they will be much safer to visit."

Commercial timber sales could be used as a tool to facilitate the removal of the hazard trees as well as provide opportunities to support local communities dependent on the wood products industry. Through this project, nearly 35,559 feet of wood products could be removed. "Many Montana community economies still depend on the timber industry; so there is a possibility to provide marketable timber through hazard tree removal contracts; I consider that to be a win-win situation for the forest, its visitors and our communities.

The Forest-wide Roadside Hazard Tree Removal and Fuels Reduction Project is authorized under the Healthy Forests Restoration Act (HFRA); and therefore is exempt from the normal NEPA-appeal process. HRFA projects are subject to a pre-decisional administrative review and objection process, which has already occurred. Under HRFA once the decision is signed, implementaiton can begin; however, the project can still be litigated.



Copyright 2010 Blackfoot Valley Dispatch, Lincoln, Montana. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from SmallTownPapers, Inc.

© 2011 Blackfoot Valley Dispatch Lincoln, Montana. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from DAS.

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