Here's a portion of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement.

Date: December 4, 2002


GIANT SEQUOIA NATIONAL MONUMENT
Draft Environmental Document Released for 90-Day Public Comment

PORTERVILLE, CA – Sequoia National Forest today released the
Giant Sequoia National Monument (Monument) Draft Environmental Impact
Statement (DEIS) for a 90-day review and public comment period.
The Monument planning process has been underway for eighteen months
and began with a Notice of Intent to prepare an Environmental Impact
Statement on June 8, 2001. “The Monument DEIS is being sent out
to the public for review and comment,” announced Sequoia
National Forest Supervisor Art Gaffrey. “We encourage the
public to attend our public meetings and review the environmental
document during this 90-day public involvement process. Identifying
Alternative 6 as the preferred alternative, shows our commitment to
management of this new national monument. This alternative provides
the greatest opportunity to protect the forest from catastrophic
wildfire and the regeneration of giant sequoia trees.”
Six alternatives are considered in this DEIS.
Alternative 1, the No Action Alternative, would continue current
management, implementing the Presidential Proclamation and the Forest
Plan as amended by the Sierra Nevada Forest Plan Amendment
(Framework). Alternative 2 is the Proposed Action as described in the
Notice of Intent published in the Federal Register in June of 2001,
which would protect and restore giant sequoia ecosystems within their
zones of ecological influence. Alternative 3 proposes to move
resources toward desired conditions by emphasizing natural processes,
primarily fire. Alternative 4 would manage the ecosystems
conservatively and encourage recreation. Alternative 5 would manage
groves with a wide range of management strategies to promote
characteristics for giant sequoia regeneration. Alternative 6 is the
preferred alternative. It proposes management of the entire Monument
with the widest range of management strategies

Comment from poster: I did have a tiny bit of work put into this in
transferring points from aerial photos to a GIS layer in several of
the major groves. Maybe some day I'll get to do some GPS fieldwork up
in the groves!

Larry Federal eco-forestry rules!

Plan #3 (if you do decide to comment) states this------with the emphasis on
NATURAL PROCESSES! It limits the use of heavy machinery in the forest for
tree harvesting, to areas around communities. Alternative 6 allows heavy
machinery "thinning". Don't let them get their foot in the door. Please
read parts of Alternative 3 below and the whole plan on their website.

Alternative 3 Theme: Emphasize natural processes.

Alternative 3 addresses the significant issues of Fire and Fuels, Giant
Sequoia, Mixed Conifer Restoration, Recreation, Social Values Regarding
Vegetation Treatments, and Watershed. It would move resources toward their
desired conditions by emphasizing natural processes, primarily fire. It
would use prescribed fire and hand treatments to reduce the risk of
catastrophic fire and restore a more natural fire regime in the Monument.
This alternative would avoid using mechanical treatments except for
community protection. A defense zone of approximately 200 feet wide would
be used to protect communities and occupied areas. There would be
approximately 3,600 acres in this defense zone. An estimated 6,000 acres
per year would be treated to begin restoring fire to Monument ecosystems.
Restoration treatments would be the priority after initial protection
treatments are completed. Alternative 3 would protect communities and other
sites occupied by people with a defense zone that would typically be 200
feet but could range up to ¼-mile, based on local fire behavior and
terrain. Use of mechanical treatments would be allowed for protection.

Alternative 3 also-----Provides a wide range of trail opportunities,
including accessible trails for persons with disabilities, hiking,
horseback riding, bicycling, and cross-country skiing (common to all action
alternatives). Expand the trail system to connect recreation facilities and
interpretive sites and increase opportunities for primitive and
semi-primitive recreation experiences and isolation from the sounds and
sites of motorized vehicles. Increase recreation facility capacity for day
use, education and interpretation, and other appropriate recreation
activities. Provide a system of well-maintained roads to allow efficient
and effective fire suppression, fuels treatment, restoration work, and
other management use (common to all action alternatives).

This is YOUR land. Use your influence and preserve this monument for your
upcoming generations.

Jerry








"Larry Harrell" wrote in message
om...
Here's a portion of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement.

Date: December 4, 2002


GIANT SEQUOIA NATIONAL MONUMENT
Draft Environmental Document Released for 90-Day Public Comment

PORTERVILLE, CA – Sequoia National Forest today released the
Giant Sequoia National Monument (Monument) Draft Environmental Impact
Statement (DEIS) for a 90-day review and public comment period.
The Monument planning process has been underway for eighteen months
and began with a Notice of Intent to prepare an Environmental Impact
Statement on June 8, 2001. “The Monument DEIS is being sent out
to the public for review and comment,” announced Sequoia
National Forest Supervisor Art Gaffrey. “We encourage the
public to attend our public meetings and review the environmental
document during this 90-day public involvement process. Identifying
Alternative 6 as the preferred alternative, shows our commitment to
management of this new national monument. This alternative provides
the greatest opportunity to protect the forest from catastrophic
wildfire and the regeneration of giant sequoia trees.”
Six alternatives are considered in this DEIS.
Alternative 1, the No Action Alternative, would continue current
management, implementing the Presidential Proclamation and the Forest
Plan as amended by the Sierra Nevada Forest Plan Amendment
(Framework). Alternative 2 is the Proposed Action as described in the
Notice of Intent published in the Federal Register in June of 2001,
which would protect and restore giant sequoia ecosystems within their
zones of ecological influence. Alternative 3 proposes to move
resources toward desired conditions by emphasizing natural processes,
primarily fire. Alternative 4 would manage the ecosystems
conservatively and encourage recreation. Alternative 5 would manage
groves with a wide range of management strategies to promote
characteristics for giant sequoia regeneration. Alternative 6 is the
preferred alternative. It proposes management of the entire Monument
with the widest range of management strategies

Comment from poster: I did have a tiny bit of work put into this in
transferring points from aerial photos to a GIS layer in several of
the major groves. Maybe some day I'll get to do some GPS fieldwork up
in the groves!

Larry Federal eco-forestry rules!