South Dakota, Wyoming Delegations Urge
U.S. Forest Service to Increase Timber Sale Program for Black Hills National Forest
WASHINGTON — U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.), and John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), and U.S. Reps. Kristi Noem (R-S.D.) and Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.) this week wrote to U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell to request the agency increase its timber sale program for the Black Hills National Forest (BHNF) in fiscal year 2016. Increasing timber production in the BHNF will help mitigate damage caused by the mountain pine beetle, reduce fire risk, and help sustain the existing forest products infrastructure.
“Approximately 17,000 acres of trees were killed in 2015 in the BHNF as a result of the mountain pine beetle infestations, which is an increase over the 2014 acreage killed by the mountain pine beetle,” the delegations wrote. “Equally as concerning, according to recent Forest Service statements, approximately 50 percent of the BHNF remains at high risk for mountain pine beetle infestation. Salvaging and utilizing those trees is far more preferable than allowing them to become fuel for forest fires that threaten the communities and forests of the Black Hills.”
Full text of the letter can be found below, and a signed copy can be found here.
Chief Tom Tidwell
USDA Forest Service
1400 Independence Ave, SW
Washington, DC 20250-1111
Dear Chief Tidwell:
We are writing to request an increase in the FY 2016 timber sale program for the Black Hills National Forest (BHNF). Notwithstanding the obvious successes of the BHNF’s timber sale program, we are concerned that the sawtimber volume planned for sale in FY 2016 is inadequate to sustain the existing forest products infrastructure.
Although there have been some recent successes in fighting the mountain pine beetle in the Black Hills, the epidemic is far from over. Approximately 17,000 acres of trees were killed in 2015 in the BHNF as a result of the mountain pine beetle infestations, which is an increase over the 2014 acreage killed by the mountain pine beetle. Equally as concerning, according to recent Forest Service statements, approximately 50 percent of the BHNF remains at high risk for mountain pine beetle infestation. Salvaging and utilizing those trees is far more preferable than allowing them to become fuel for forest fires that threaten the communities and forests of the Black Hills.
We request an increased FY 2016 sale program, with a sawtimber target of 220,000 ccf, which would: 1) sustain the current forest products industry; 2) salvage more acres of trees already attacked by mountain pine beetles; 3) treat additional acres resulting in reduced potential for further mountain pine beetle infestations; and 4) reduce fire danger.
We look forward to your response. Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
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I notice that the NPS and FS are now arguing that these dead trees become “homes” and “food” for wildlife and as such, need to be left in place.
The pinheads have no clue on just how much biomass is out there and how the overpopulation of many species is simply KILLING the forests.