Forest Service gives project update for 2014

SUPERIOR – As part of the first 2014 meeting of the County Commissioners, Tawnya Brummett, district ranger for the Superior ranger station, gave an update on the Forest Service’s plans in 2014.

Brummett started with an update on the Cedar Thom project. Cedar Thom is a maintenance project to remove forest debris from the area and maintain roads. The project has been delayed because of constant lawsuits raised to voice concerns over the project’s effect on bull trout populations.

According to Brummett, the work her office needed to do before the project could begin was done. She hoped Fish and Wildlife Services would get their information back to the forest service soon with the help of forest service fish specialists.

“I’m a little burnt on this project, so I’m really hoping something is happening with this,” said Brummett.

The projected timelines expect Cedar Thom to be delayed until this summer. However, this may not be completely accurate. The Schedule of Proposed Actions is an online calendar where the public can see what projects are coming up. According to Brummett, the spreadsheet nature of the format makes it difficult to get an accurate idea of when projects will actually happen.

“It automatically populates [the schedule] based on ‘you need 45 days comment on this, 30 days comment on scoping and so on,” said Brummett. “I wouldn’t pay too much attention to that because they’re often projected out a little bit just to give you an idea of what project will be out on the street for you to comment on.”

Brummett went on to explain additional information about the December deadline the forest service had hoped Cedar Thom would meet. She said it was hoped for the project’s appeal process to be complete by the deadline. Once a decision is approved, the project is opened for public comment where the forest service has to go through all the comments and reach a compromise with each party.

The objection process, however, is the opposite. A project decision cannot be approved until all objections have been addressed and resolved. According to Brummett, Cedar Thom is about to enter this process. She said this was why the project looked like it was so far in the future. These processes are often estimated to take approximately 70 days or more to complete.

The hope is for everything to come together quickly and for the project to get started soon. The forest service office tries to have the project ready to go before the decision has been signed, so they can get to work right away. However, Brummett said this could be a gamble, as the project may be changed in the objection or appeal process.

“Most of the area of Cedar Thom is ready to go,” said Brummett. “That being said, we still have to go through the objection process and see what comes from that.”

The forest service had another project in the works as well. The expansion of the Lookout Ski area is about to enter the scoping process. While the Idaho Forest Service administers the project, most of the expansion will happen in Mineral County. The project will begin once both sides reach an agreement about the decision.

According to Brummett, the ski resort’s management is completely in charge of the project and has their own team to study the affects of the proposal. She said all data on the proposal’s impacts would come from the resort’s teams.

The project would expand the resort to include new lifts and ski areas. While it is large, the expansion will not reach into the St. Regis basin.

Brummett also spread word about the Forest Service’s recruitment efforts for new members of the Resource Advisory Group. She said more members are needed to hold in depth discussions and approve projects after adequate discussion.

“We approve a lot of really neat projects,” said Brummett. “I’m really hoping we can get some good interest.”

There are three positions and three replacement positions available. The vacancies are in the natural resource, area development and public at large groups. Brummett said members in replacement positions did not vote on issues, but were asked to attend meetings and had the potential to become full members.