Final Environmental Impact Statement

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Vestal Final Environmental Impact Statement Chapter 3 170 Asian 0.4 % 0.9 % African American 0.2 % 1.3 % Pacific Islander 0 % 0 % Custer County differs slightly from the State of South Dakota with the biggest difference being that Custer County has a higher proportion of Caucasian residents compared to the rest of the state. Economic Well-Being Personal income, unemployment rate and poverty level are useful measures of economic well-being, or how well individuals and families are able to meet their basic needs for housing and subsistence as well as higher-level needs such as long-term financial stability and the ability to procure and enjoy luxury items. Economics ties to forest resources are integral to the economic well-being of many residents in the Black Hills. Some are engaged in the performance of vegetation management activities, such as timber harvest or grazing as a source of income. Others benefit economically from the recreation activities that occur on the forest as visitors to the area purchase gas, groceries, or recreational equipment from local retailers. Forest management proposals have the potential to impact economic prospects for these groups in varying ways. Table 56 displays per capita income, unemployment rate, and poverty level for Custer County and South Dakota. Table 56. Economic Well-Being Based on 2006-2010 Census Measure Custer County South Dakota Per Capita Income (in 2010 dollars) $24, 353 $24,110 Median Household Income $46,743 $46,369 Unemployment 2.4 % 6.0 % Persons Below Poverty Level 9.7 % 13.7 % Per capita income and median household income mirrors the state of South Dakota as a whole. Individuals below the poverty level are lower in Custer County compared to the state. Median home ownership values are greater in Custer County compared to the state. The unemployment rate is lower in Custer County than South Dakota as a state. Timber harvest has contributed greatly to the area’s economy. Early settlers used timber harvested from the Black Hills to construct buildings, railroads, and mining facilities. The very first timber sale on a national forest took place in 1898 near Nemo, South Dakota, which is now part of the Northern Hills Ranger District. Today, the Black Hills National Forest is one of the top timber‐producing forests in the National Forest System. This timber supply is a significant component of the support of local and regional communities, as well as contributing to the area’s supply of goods and services. Overall, the Black Hills National Forest’s practices have had a positive influence on the economy of the Black Hills area. Three communities in the Black Hills region, Spearfish and Hill City, South Dakota and Hulett, Wyoming, are home to large lumber mills, all operated by a single owner, that
Vestal Final Environmental Impact Statement Chapter 3 provide a significant number of jobs and are an important component of the local economy. Several smaller independent milling operations are scattered throughout the area. These mills rely on timber from the Black Hills National Forest to continue operations. Social Concerns Several social concerns were raised during scoping: • Concerns were raised that the MPB risk would continue to be too high in the project area after proposed treatments are completed because some sites are deferred and/or treatments are not aggressive enough. Others question whether an epidemic is occurring within the project area and suggest that less aggressive treatments would be sufficient. • There was concern about the risk of wildfire to private property and access roads. • Concern was raised about impacts to Special Use Permittees that have campgrounds, roads, and trails within the project area. • There were concerns about the impacts of converting some non-system roads to system roads and the construction of a new access road to avoid private land and topography. There was also concern that thinning near closure gates would allow for motorized access behind the closed gates. • Concern was expressed that the proposed management actions may affect the scenic integrity of the project area as well as the stand level diversity for wildlife habitat. • Concerns were raised regarding the level of timber harvest, with some commenters favoring less active management and some favoring more management. • There were several commenters who expressed concern regarding the spread of noxious weeds as the result of management activities. All of these resource related concerns have been addressed earlier in this EIS under the resource discussions. Environmental Consequences The FEIS for the Revised Black Hills National Forest, Land and Resource Management Plan, Phase II Amendment (USDA, 2005a) included a social and economic analysis (Sections 3-9 and 3-11). Such an analysis is done at the forest level because, in general, most projects don’t have social and economic effects large enough to be meaningfully measured. The Vestal project would be consistent with the Forest Plan and therefore, would contribute to the expected effects noted in the Phase II FEIS. None of the proposed activities within the Vestal project are anticipated to result in different social economic effects than those noted in the Phase II FEIS. 171
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Final Environmental Impact Statement

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