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Forest officials seeking comment on Warm Fire timber salvage plan

The Kaibab National Forest is seeking public comments this month on its proposal to conduct salvage logging, reforestation and fuels reduction activities in the Warm Fire area on the North Kaibab Ranger District.

The Warm Fire burned about 40,000 acres in the central part of the Kaibab Plateau from June 25, when fire managers shifted to a wildfire suppression strategy, until it was contained on July 4.

The area is important to the district's heritage, range, recreation, timber and wildlife programs.

The proposal calls for salvage logging on approximately 9,990 acres, resulting in removal of approximately 84.5 million board feet of timber products. Slash disposal and other fuels treatments would be conducted on some logged areas to protect future regeneration.

Reforestation proposed for the wildfire area includes allowing aspen to naturally regenerate on approximately 4,050 acres, planting of ponderosa pine on 5,370 acres and planting of mixed conifers (ponderosa pine and Douglas fir) on 5,270 acres.

A more detailed explanation of the proposed action is available on the Kaibab National Forest Web site at www.fs.fed.us/r3/kai.

Kaibab National Forest Supervisor Mike Williams defined the purpose and need for the Warm Fire Recovery Project based on the recommendations of a team of Forest Service specialists, which evaluated resource conditions in the fire area in September and identified opportunities for recovery work.

Williams identified three main needs for the project: Recovering the economic value of the burned timber, reforesting burned conifer stands and moving them towards longer-term desired conditions, and breaking up fuel continuity in the burned area.

The forest welcomes comments on the Warm Fire Recovery Project at any time, but those received by Jan. 26 will be most helpful in developing an environmental impact statement for the project.

Interested parties should e-mail their comments to "Warm Fire Recovery Project" at mailroom_r3_kaibab@fs.fed.us, fax them to 928-643-8105, or mail them to: North Kaibab Ranger District, P.O. Box 248, Fredonia, Ariz., 86022.

Oral comments may be provided to Interdisciplinary Team Leader Lois Pfeffer by telephone at 559-359-7023 or 307-754-8197. Please call to arrange a time to submit your oral comments.

Comments most helpful to the project development process are those which specifically identify issues caused by or related to the proposed action.

More information about this and other projects in the Warm Fire area is available on the Kaibab National Forest web site at www.fs.fed.us/r3/kai, or by calling the North Kaibab Ranger District at 928-643-7395.


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