The Wayne National Forest is beginning another phase of a logging project to remove damaged and collapsed trees, but one non-profit group is concerned with the endeavor.
The forest announced earlier this month that it is moving onto the second phase of the Ironton Heavy Fuelwood Production Project, which would remove 930 acres of forest in order to reduce high fuel loads in the Ironton unit of the forest. Athens and Marietta are the other two units.
Members of Buckeye Forest Council are concerned with the second phase because the Bush Administration's Healthy Forest Restoration Act allows logging without public input and environmental assessment if the area is less than 1,000 acres.
Susan Heitker, executive coordinator of the Buckeye Forest Council, said the group sees this legislation as a problem for forests.
We'll see more logging without checks and balances
she said.
The logging project is in response to damage by a severe ice storm that affected the Ironton area last February. Collapsed trees and tops of broken trees will be knocked down and cut apart as part of the salvage operation to reduce fire hazards. Smaller pieces of lumber will speed up the rotting process and emit oxygen, said Gary Wilson, watershed and timber group leader of the forest.
Neighbors also are a concern because the forest damage can cause a potential fire threat to surrounding areas, Wilson said.
Wilson said the Healthy Forest Restoration Act still does require input from public and scientific analysis, but shortens the time frame and circuit of the appeal process.
The forest has a mailing list for people who are interested in the forest or specific projects, and adjacent landowners have been added. A legal notice also will appear in the newspaper about any project, Wilson said.
According to Wayne National Forest documents, 300 letters about the project were mailed, and seven comments were sent back.
In addition, Buckeye Forest Council members are concerned about the India Bat, a federally listed endangered species that lives in the Ironton area, said Chris Crews, campaigns coordinator for the council.
But, Wilson said, fallen trees and broken treetops are not good habitats for the Indiana Bats.
A great bat tree is Shagbark Hickory he said. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services, the regulating agency, requires these trees to remain untouched.
Wilson said before beginning a project, the Wayne National Forest consults with the Fish and Wildlife Services. The project is explained and effects are discussed.
The marking of trees to be removed is taking place and a contract package is being put together. The expected starting date of project is winter of 2005, Wilson said
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