WildEarth Guardians

Friday, June 2, 2006
Forest Manager Nixes Thinning Project

''This was the responsible action to take since a proper analysis was not done..''
Contact: Staci Matlock The New Mexican

The Santa Fe National Forest supervisor sent back a planned forest-thinning project on 1,825 acres near Hyde Memorial State Park for more public input, agreeing with a group of environmentalists and citizens who had appealed the original decision.

Forest Supervisor Gilbert Zepeda said staff needs to seek further collaboration and provide more details about possible environmental impacts.

The Española Ranger District staff will now conduct an environmental assessment, reopening the project to public comment, according to acting district ranger Sandy Hurlocker.

Chemical sensitivity activist Ann McCampbell, environmentalist Sam Hitt and several other people had appealed the project, saying it required more public comment and a more careful examination of impacts on roadless areas and ongoing research in the Santa Fe Municipal Watershed.

The group applauded Zepeda's decision. "This was the responsible action to take since a proper analysis was not done to evaluate potential environmental and health impacts to humans and wildlife," said Ann McCampbell.

The Española Ranger District approved the thinning project in February as a "categorical exclusion," which is allowed for certain types of federal projects where forest staff find there are no significant impacts to the environment. A categorical exclusion reduces the requirement for public input mandated under more formal environmental studies. Forest officials say the project is needed to reduce the risk of a catastrophic wildfire in the Santa Fe Municipal Watershed.

The Forest Service conducted an open house in July to explain the project to the public and seek comments, and had a 30-day comment period. Hurlocker said the Forest Service held another monthlong comment period in December. "It's been out for public comment a couple of times," Hurlocker said. "We think its been pretty well advertised as to what we want to do."

The proposed project is located over the ridge from the municipal watershed, south of Hyde Memorial State Park and east of Hyde Park Estates. A wildfire poses dangers to the area.

"Also, because the road is narrow, one way in and one way out, it would be difficult to evacuate people if there was a fire anywhere in there," Hurlocker said of the road, which leads to the Santa Fe Ski Basin.

Hurlockers said the project encompasses designated roadless areas, "but wouldn't be using vehicles. We're not proposing anything that isn't allowed in a roadless area."

Critics raised concerns about the project's impact on ongoing research sites in the area monitored by Colorado's Rocky Mountain Research Center. Hurlocker said the center's scientists were consulted about the project. "They said they could find other areas that would protect the integrity of their monitoring," Hurlocker said. "We defer to the Rocky Mountain researchers. We weren't trying to ram this down their throat. If they said this would affect integrity, we would have done something different."

Contact Staci Matlock at 470-9843 or smatlock@sfnewmexican.com.

Copyright 2006 New Mexican - Reprinted with permission