Final Environmental Impact Statement

Vestal Final Environmental Impact Statement Chapter 1
At this time, there are larger pockets of beetle activity in the northern and western parts
of the project area. The southern parts of the project are less impacted at this time, but
beetle activity is occurring there at a rapidly growing rate. The primary management tool
for reducing MPB-caused mortality is to remove the infested trees and to reduce the
overall density of the remaining trees through mechanical thinning.
Private land is also being impacted by the MPB epidemic. Approximately 7,000 acres of
private forested land occurs within the Vestal project area. Many land owners are taking
steps to protect their properties by thinning stands, removing trees infested with beetles
(sanitation), cutting and chunking of infested trees, and spraying individual trees to
protect them against the MPB epidemic. Land owners have voiced their concern about
adjacent National Forest lands infested with MPB and the continuing spread onto their
own land. Mountain pine beetles are moving across all ownerships within this project
area.
Fire hazard is currently high to very high on approximately 84% of National Forest lands
in the project area. This signifies substantial potential for large-scale, high-intensity
wildfires to occur. Such fires could threaten lives and property, as well as, resource
values.
Custer County prepared a Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) which was
approved by resolution in 2011 (resolution 2011-7). The CWPP identified the City of
Custer at-risk community (ARC) as an urban interface environment with a high density of
structures and infrastructure. In many areas the structures lack defensible fire protection
space. There is a community watershed for municipal water source at high risk of fire
impacts. Also there is a high potential for economic loss, and likelihood for loss of
housing and businesses in the event of a wildfire. The Custer County CWPP identifies a
3 mile radius from the city limits of the City of Custer as a Community at Risk boundary.
This 3 mile ARC radius of the city limits is the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI).
Healthy Forest Restoration Act (HFRA)
The Healthy Forest Restoration Act (HFRA) was signed by President Bush in 2003 (H.R.
1904) for the purpose of expediting hazardous fuels reduction and forest restoration
projects on Federal lands at risk of wildland fire or insect and disease epidemics.
The HFRA is comprised of a variety of provisions to expedite hazardous fuels reductions
on specific types of National Forest land. The Vestal Project is an authorized hazardous
fuels reduction project under Section 102(a)(4). The project area meets the qualifications
because of the existing MPB epidemic occurring within and adjacent to the project area,
which poses a significant threat to resource values on National Forest and private lands
(see Appendix H). The Vestal project will be analyzed under the provisions of the
HFRA, Section 102(a)(4).
The HFRA provided expedited procedures for complying with National Environmental
Policy Act (NEPA) requirements. Section 104 of HFRA provides guidance on the range
of alternatives studied and disclosed in the NEPA document. All authorized hazardous
fuel reduction projects must be consistent with Forest Plan direction.
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