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Please see attached news release.
Kaibab National Forest seeks public comment on proposed vegetation management project on the North Kaibab Ranger District
FREDONIA, Ariz.,
March 27, 2020 — The Kaibab National Forest is seeking public comment on a proposed vegetation management project on the North Kaibab Ranger District that would improve forest health and
vigor while also enhancing habitat conditions in the area. The Burnt Corral Vegetation Management Project Environmental Assessment and all other project documents and maps are available for review
on the Kaibab National Forest website at
www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=44236. The project includes treatments designed to improve forest resiliency by creating conditions better able to withstand climate change and other threats such as unnaturally
severe wildfire. The project proposes the use of prescribed fire as well as the management of naturally-caused wildfire on up to 28,090 acres of the North
Kaibab Ranger District. This reintroduction of wildland fire across the landscape would be supported by up to 17,765 acres of commercial and non-commercial mechanical vegetation treatments. These treatments would promote a healthy mosaic of forest conditions and increase long-term sustainability by creating stands that include
a diversity of tree ages and sizes. Larger openings between groups of trees and fewer areas of interlocking crowns would not only increase forage and grass production but would also make the entire project area more resistant to unnaturally severe wildfire. This is the second official comment period for the project, which was originally scoped in March 2015. Due to the amount of time since the
original comment period, the North Kaibab Ranger District decided to offer a second opportunity for the public to provide input. There have been few changes to the original proposed action, as most related to minor acreage adjustments based on actual field
surveys and stand data. "Even though there have not been significant changes, we wanted to ensure our communities and partners had ample opportunity to review the
project and provide us with comments," said Randall Walker, district ranger for the North Kaibab Ranger District.
The Kaibab National Forest encourages members of the public to provide feedback on the Burnt Corral Vegetation Management Project Environmental
Assessment during the 30-day comment period. Specific, written comments should be postmarked or sent by April 24. Comments must be in writing and may be delivered electronically, by mail or facsimile. Electronic comments, including attachments, may be
emailed to comments-southwestern-kaibab-north-kaibab@xxxxxxxx. Please include “Burnt Corral Vegetation Management Project” in the subject
line. Comments may be submitted electronically in Word (.doc or .docx), rich text format (.rtf), text (.txt), Adobe portable document formats (PDF), or HyperText Markup Language (.html). Submit comments via mail to: U.S. Forest Service, North Kaibab Ranger
District, Attn: David Vincelette / NEPA Planner, 430 South Main Street, P.O. Box 248, Fredonia, AZ 86022. Comments may be faxed to 928-643-8105. For detailed project information, please visit
www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=44236.
Kaibab National Forest information is also available through the following sources:
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Attachment:
1650-1_so_BurntCorralEnvironmentalAssessment_2020_0327.pdf
Description: 1650-1_so_BurntCorralEnvironmentalAssessment_2020_0327.pdf
