Mountain Thin Comment Reopened
By Paul Boerger, Mt Shasta Herald
September 28, 2005

US Forest Service District Ranger Mike Hupp has announced that due to a recent court decision public comment for the Mountain Thin project in Mount Shasta has been reopened. Comments on the project are being taken until the end of October.

Mountain Thin, according to the Forest Service, is designed to "treat and remove hazardous woody fuels, thin trees and harvest timber, burn landing piles during periods of low fire danger, and plant conifers in regeneration of harvest units."

The project, four years in the making, includes a 10 mile long defensible fire zone east of the city of Mount Shasta and the reduction of insect infestations.

Approximately five million board feet of lumber will be harvested including 46,000 tons of biomass fuel for electrical generation.

The project will encompass approximately 3,200 acres and is slated to be completed in 2007.

Hupp said he reopened the comment period in response to a June court decision that halted several forest projects, two of which were in the local management unit.

Judge David Levi found that Forest Service regulations allowing expedited comment periods were not sufficient public notification of potential environmental impacts. The Forest Service is considering an appeal.

Although Mountain Thin was not part of the suit and further public comment is not required for the project, Hupp said he felt "obligated to ensure anyone who is interested to review the Environmental Assessment and offer comment."

Hupp said the expedited comment period that includes the proposed actions, but not the complete EA, was allowed under regulations when Mountain Thin was reviewed.

"The judge made it clear the regulations are not consistent with the National Environmental Policy Act," Hupp said. "We want to live up to the court's intent."

Hupp said Mountain Thin will benefit the forest and the community.

"We'll be restoring the natural vegetation condition. They are all overstocked stands open to insect attack and catastrophic fire," Hupp said. "Mountain Thin will substantially reduce insect attack, fire danger and protect the visual impact. Thinning is far superior to losing the trees to insects or wildfire."

Hupp noted the Forest Service worked closely with local groups to protect bike trails and sought out significant input from the US Fish and Wildlife Service.

"We're proud of this project," Hupp said. "When completed, there will be a ten mile fire break on the east side of the city."

Comments should be addressed to district ranger Mike Hupp at the Mount Shasta Ranger Station, 204 West Alma Street, Mount Shasta CA 96067, attention Mountain Thin Project. Electronic comments can be sent via email to comments-pacificsouthwest-shasta-trinity-mtshasta-mccloud@fs.fed.us.

Further information on the project can be obtained from Desiree Johnson at the Mount Shasta Ranger Station at 926-9620 Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Mountain Thin EA is available online at www.fs.fed.us/r5/shastatrinity/home-page/smmu

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