Final Environmental Impact Statement

Vestal Final Environmental Impact Statement
Vestal Project
Final
Environmental Impact Statement
Custer County, South Dakota
Lead Agency: USDA Forest Service
Cooperating Agencies: None
Responsible Official: Lynn Kolund, District Ranger
330 Mount Rushmore Road
Custer, SD 57730
(605) 673-4853
For Information Contact: Kelly Honors, Team Leader
330 Mount Rushmore Road
Custer, SD 57730
(605) 673-4853
Abstract: The Hell Canyon Ranger District of the Black Hills National Forest has prepared a Final
Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act
(NEPA), the Healthy Forest Restoration Act (HFRA) and other relevant Federal and State laws and
regulations. The Hell Canyon Ranger District proposes to implement multiple resource management
actions within the Vestal project area on National Forest lands as guided by the Black Hills National
Forest Land and Resource Management Plan as amended. The focus of the proposed action is to
reduce mountain pine beetle risk and fire hazard on National Forest lands surrounding the City of
Custer, SD. Two alternatives are considered in detail. Alternative 1 is the No Action Alternative.
Alternative 2 is the proposed action and includes vegetation treatments designed primarily to reduce
the potential for mountain pine beetle caused mortality within the Vestal project area. Proposed
treatments are also designed to reduce fire hazard. This FEIS discloses the direct, indirect and
cumulative effects resulting from these two alternatives. The preferred alternative is Alternative 2,
with minor modification to proposed treatments on four units.
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