News Release

For Release: May 2, 2007
Contact: Robin Boyce (208) 962-3594

BLM Releases Final Eastside Township Project EIS

COTTONWOOD, ID — On April 27, 2007, the Notice of Availability of the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the Eastside Township Fuels and Vegetation project near Elk City, Idaho was published in the Federal Register.  The Eastside Project, initiated by the Idaho Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Cottonwood Field Office, is located at the headwaters of the South Fork of the Clearwater River near the small rural community of Elk City in central Idaho.

The Eastside Township project has been designed to reduce hazardous fuel conditions and the risk of a high intensity wildland fire in the Elk City area.  The project would change the forest density and species composition to maintain and increase forest stand resistance to high intensity fire, insects, and disease. 

The FEIS analyzed four alternatives, including no action and three action alternatives.  According to Kurt Pavlat, Acting Field Manager, “The action alternatives would involve various silvicultural prescriptions including timber harvests, biomass utilization, slash piling, and prescribed burns on about 1,300 acres. Road closures, road relocation, road decommissioning, and conversion of roads to trails, as well as riparian treatments (plantings and stabilization) and stream bank modification would also be completed.” 

The Eastside Township project would implement key components of the National Fire Plan and recommendations in Idaho County’s Wildland Fire and Mitigation Plan (2003).  The Nez Perce National Forest (NPNF) is a cooperating agency on this project since a small portion of the project area can only be reached by crossing NPNF lands.

Copies of the Final EIS were mailed to those who previously requested them.  The document is also available on the internet  or may be reviewed at the following locations:

 Centennial Library in Grangeville
 Forest Service Ranger Station in Elk City

Two formats of the FEIS are available, either print or on compact disk, by emailing the project lead (robbin_boyce@blm.gov) or calling (208) 962-3594.  Please indicate which format you would like and include your name and mailing address in your request.

Written comments on the FEIS will be accepted through May 27th  and should be addressed to the Eastside Township Fuels and Vegetation Project Lead by mailing the BLM Cottonwood Field Office at 1 Butte Drive, Cottonwood, Idaho 83522; FAX: (208) 962-3275; or Email: robbin_boyce@blm.gov.

Following the review period, BLM and the NPNF will issue separate Records of Decision. 

For more detailed information about this project please contact Robbin Boyce at (208) 962-3594.

—BLM—