Status
On December 18th, 2019, the Montpelier Ranger District of the Caribou-Targhee National Forest proposed the Strawberry Forest Management Project. The project is proposing to treat 2,658 acres with a combination of vegetation management activities throughout the project area to improve the condition of the forest ecosystems. The project area is located approximately 15 miles west of Montpelier within Franklin County, Idaho. The project will be analyzed through an Environmental Assessment. On January 10th, 2020, Y2U, along with the Alliance for the Wild Rockies and the Native Ecosystem Council submitted scoping comments on the Strawberry Forest Management Project. This project proposes to treat approximately 11,000 acres through a combination of vegetation management activity throughout the project area to improve the condition of the forest ecosystem. This project should be analyzed with an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) not an Environmental Assessment (EA) to assess the cumulative impacts of the proposal along with all other existing and reasonably foreseeable future project impacts in the region, specifically in the Corridor. The full set of comments can be found below.
Work Plan
- Upon release, Y2U will address whether the Draft Environmental Assessment (DEA) adequately analyzed the potential environmental impacts of the project and addressed potential alternatives.
- Y2U will submit comments on the DEA.
- Y2U will file an Objection if the FEA does not adequately analyze the potential environmental impacts of the proposed project and potential alternatives.
- Y2U will continue to monitor the impact of this project on wildlife and habitat.
- Y2U is considering seeking legal representation to challenge the NEPA process for this “vegetation treatment” or “Aspen restoration” project.
Expected Outcome
Unknown at this time.