Final Environmental Impact Statement

Vestal Final Environmental Impact Statement Chapter 2
that reducing the BA to 60 or less is an effective method of treatment.
Free Selection and Variable Density Thinning is proposed in certain areas
with specific wildlife habitat concerns. While these treatments would
have a positive effect by reducing the overall BA, they are not as effective
as standard Commercial Thins in reducing MPB susceptibility.
• An alternative that includes harvest restrictions of the oldest and largest trees.
With a main goal of saving these trees, as well as recruit replacements.
- The purpose and need of this project would not be achieved is all old or
large trees were restricted from harvest. The proposed action reduces
susceptibility to MPB caused mortality and therefore, improves the
potential for old and large trees to remain on the landscape. Each
proposed treatment would retain some large trees. Overstory Removal,
which generally is a removal of all overstory, includes design criteria to
retain at least one large tree per acre.
• An alternative that retains spruce within the following meadow sites: 030305-07,
50, 70, 71, 72.
- The proposed action includes Pine Encroachment treatment on these sites.
Design criteria have been added to not remove any spruce from these sites.
• An alternative that would include Variable Density Thinning in site 030305-38,
rather than Commercial Thinning, to manage for stand diversity for goshawks.
- The proposed action includes treatments which maintain or enhance stand
or landscape level diversity, including Free Selection, Variable Density
Thinning, and Group Shelterwood. Site specific design criteria are
included in the proposed action to manage for goshawk habitat. Field
survey for goshawk were conducted in the noted site and surrounding
sites.
• An alternative which would split the project into two separate projects, removing
a portion of the project area which has been proposed by an interest group as the
Okawita Paha National Monument and International Peace Park.
- There is no National Monument in the project area. There is no indication
that any portion of the project area is being considered by the President for
designation as a National Monument under the Antiquities Act.
Therefore, such as designation is not reasonably foreseeable.
Comparison of Alternatives
This section provides a comparison of the two alternatives analyzed in this EIS. The
alternatives are described and compared in terms of the effects each has on the project
area. Appendix A, Maps 6-7 show vegetation treatments. The environmental
consequences of the alternatives are described in detail in Chapter 3 of this EIS.
The existing condition acreages used in the tables below represent conditions in year
2011. Alternative conditions are projected to year 2018 because that is when project
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