Black Hills National Forest Announces

Mountain Pine Beetle Response Project Decision

Custer, SD – Forest Supervisor Craig Bobzien announced his decision today for the Mountain Pine Beetle Response Project on the Black Hills National Forest.

The Final Environmental Impact Statement and Record of Decision resulted from over a year of extensive public and partner involvement, Bobzien said. “I carefully considered comments received on the EIS.  These comments were invaluable to me in weighing options during scoping and shaping the selected action.”

“My decision allows us to act more quickly on more areas to combat the Mountain Pine Beetle (MPB) and reduce hazardous fuels,” said Bobzien. “It addresses concerns about safety and will help protect communities and resources from large scale, severe wildfires.”

Bobzien says his decision will build upon the excellent cooperation with partners and actions to make our forests more healthy and resilient.

The Decision includes treatments on portions of approximately 248,000 acres of high risk forest that are predicted to be affected by MPB and also includes 122,000 acres of commercial and non-commercial timber harvest over five to seven years.

This project was authorized by the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (HFRA).  The Act provides improved statutory processes for hazardous fuel (including insect/disease) reduction projects and healthy forest restoration on National Forest System lands.

Bobzien invites the public to view the Final Environmental Impact Statement and Record of Decision, along with maps and other helpful information, by visiting the Black Hills National Forest website at http://www.fs.usda.gov/blackhills.