Comment period begins for Spruce Vegetation Management Project

The Black Hills National Forest is announcing the availability of the Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Spruce Vegetation Management Project and is seeking public comment on the proposed project.

The project is located on National Forest System lands south of Spearfish Canyon, east of the Wyoming/South Dakota border, north of the Crazy Horse Memorial and west of Interstate 90.

The project includes management activities on approximately 3614 acres in mixed conifer stands. The modified proposed action includes approximately 493 acres of overstory removal with reserves, 831 acres of shelterwood, 888 acres of commercial thinning, 720 acres of group selection and 682 acres of precommercial thinning restoration.

The purpose of the project is to re-establish ponderosa pine and aspen in mixed conifer stands currently dominated by spruce; increase structural heterogeneity in spruce stands lacking age and size class diversity; provide site-specific fuels reduction to protect infrastructure at risk and create defensible space; and provide economic support to local communities.

Comments are encouraged to be specific, within the scope of the project, have a direct relationship to the proposed project activities, and include supporting reasons for the responsible official to consider (36 CFR 218). The 30-day comment period for this project started with the publication of the legal notice in the Rapid City Journal on Aug. 24, 2023.

The comment period will end on Sep. 25, 2023.

Comments can be submitted electronically through the project webpage at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/blackhills/?project=61599. Written comments may be submitted to: Matt Daily, Black Hills National Forest, 1019 N. 5th Street Custer, SD 57730; or can be dropped off in person (Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., excluding holidays).