News Release

For Release: May 27, 2008
Contact: Cindy Weston (208) 769-5114

BLM Initiates Public Scoping for Whiskey South II
Vegetation Treatment Project Near Elk City

COTTONWOOD, ID - On May 27, 2008, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) published a Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Whiskey South II Vegetation Management project near Elk City, Idaho.

Stephanie Connolly, BLM Cottonwood Field Manager explained that, “The 30-day public scoping period begins with the publication of the Notice in the Federal Register and will continue through June 26, 2008.”

The Whiskey South II project is being launched by the Idaho BLM’s Cottonwood Field Office (CotFO) in cooperation with the Nez Perce National Forest (NPNF). This project is located approximately three air miles south-west of Elk City, Idaho, and falls within a Wildland Urban Interface.

The Whiskey South II project would implement key components of the National Fire Plan by reducing hazardous fuels conditions; reducing the risk of high intensity wildland fire to life, property and natural resources in the Elk City wildland urban interface; and maintaining low intensity fire conditions where they exist. The project would implement recommendations from the Idaho County Wildland Fire and Mitigation Plan (2003).

According to Connolly, “The project would entail changing the forest density and species composition to maintain and increase forest stand resistance to high intensity fire, insects, and disease. We’re considering various silvicultural prescriptions that include, timber harvests, biomass utilization, slash piling, and prescribed burns on about 785 acres. Road closures, decommissioning and improvements would also occur.” 

Public scoping for this project began in August 2005. Since that time, circumstances have prevented the Cottonwood Field Office from completing the analysis and the project was placed on hold. Issues previously identified during public scoping for this project as well as comments received as a result of this scoping process will be used to prepare the EIS. Any previously submitted comments that are on record will be considered in this analysis; however, due to the length of time since the previous scoping periods and change in staff, we encourage you to resubmit your comments at this time.

All comments and issues should be submitted in writing to the BLM Cottonwood Field Office at 1 Butte Drive, Cottonwood, Idaho 83522. You may fax your comments to (208) 962-3275 or email them to cynthia_weston@blm.gov (please indicate Whiskey South II in the subject line). Written comments may also be hand-delivered to the Cottonwood Field Office at 1 Butte Drive in Cottonwood, Idaho. All comments should be submitted by June 26, 2008.

For more detailed information about this project please contact Cindy Weston at (208) 769-5114, Robbin Boyce at (208) 962-3594 or Stephanie Connolly at (208) 962-3256.

—BLM—

Notice of Intent / Scoping Letter and Map