WildEarth Guardians

Monday, March 21, 2005
The Tajique Watershed Restoration HFRA Project and Citizen's Alternative Proposal

Officials from the Mountainair Ranger District of the Cibola National Forest have released the draft plan for the Tajique Healthy Forest Restoration Act (HFRA) Project
Contact: WildEarth Guardians

A coalition of homeowners and environmental groups has asked the Cibola National Forest to consider an alternative proposal to restore forests in the Manzano Mountains that would not require logging and road building. The homeowners, each of whom live on private land within the boundaries of the Cibola National Forest, have proposed the alternative because they are strongly opposed to the draft Forest Service plan.

The HFRA of 2003 (Public Law 108-148) is a highly controversial new statute passed by Congress and signed by President Bush in a state of hysteria following the shocking wildfires in southern California late in the summer of 2003.

Read the Citizen's Alternative 3/21/05 (PDF)

The Tajique Watershed Restoration HFRA Project draft environmental impact statement was published on January 25th 2005 and the comments on the draft are due March 21st. A final environmental impact statement would be expected in the spring with a 30-day objection period following. The Record of Decision can be expected in June or July with implementation beginning thereafter for a period of 10 years.

Read the HFRA Project Outline 12/04 (PDF)