Home On-Air The 8th Day Public Affairs Officer Janel M Crooks Talks about Stone Moss Project for...

Public Affairs Officer Janel M Crooks Talks about Stone Moss Project for The Hiawatha National Forest

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Public Affairs Officer Janel M Crooks Talks about Stone Moss Project for The Hiawatha National Forest
Public Affairs Officer Janel M Crooks Talks about Stone Moss Project for The Hiawatha National Forest

Rapid River, MI — Janel M Crooks joined Todd Pazz on the 8th Day Radio Show on Sunny.FM to talk about the Stone Moss Project for the Hiawatha National Forest.  The US Forest Service’s Stone Moss Vegetation Management Project proposes to manage vegetation on National Forest System lands on the Rapid River Ranger District. On April 3, 2019, District Ranger Charlie Marsh announced the 30-day comment period.

Among the topics discussed was the peculiar need for Jack Pines to have fires to perpetuate the species.  Their seeds require fire to germinate, according to Janel Crooks.

Listen:

[Interview First Broadcast April 6, 2019]

“I am seeking public participation to further refine this proposal and to determine potential issues and alternatives to the proposal which will be analyzed in an environmental assessment,” said Marsh.

The primary purpose of the project is to manage the structural components and age class diversity of the forests within the Stone Moss analysis area. Treatment activities are proposed to improve structural diversity for better growing conditions and to increase the amount of young forests of these types. These actions are expected to improve habitats for a variety of wildlife species, including habitat creation for the federally listed Kirtland’s warbler, while also treating hazardous fuels.

“We may modify the proposed action based on concerns and issues raised during this scoping period,” said Marsh.

The scoping period for the Stone Moss project begins Friday, April 5 and runs through May 6, 2019. Comments must be submitted by May 6, 2019.

A project open house will be hosted by the US Forest Service on Wednesday, April 24, 2019 from 4 – 7 p.m. at the Rapid River District Office (8181 US Hwy 2, Rapid River, MI 49878). Forest Service personnel will be on hand to answer questions and accept comments.

Stone Moss Project Area Map
Stone Moss Project Area Map

The decision for this project will be subject to the objection process pursuant to 36 CFR 218.5. Your participation in this project by commenting now will afford you the right to object to the project’s proposed decision, which will follow the release of the environmental assessment. For your comment to be considered timely under 36 CFR 218.5, it must be received by May 6, 2019. Comments are most valuable if they are within the scope of the proposed action, are specific to the proposed action, have direct relationship to the proposed action and include supporting reasons.

The preferred method to submit comments is electronically to the Comment Analysis and Response Application (CARA) database at: https://cara.ecosystem-management.org/Public//CommentInput?Project=55809.

Alternatively, send hard copy comments to District Ranger Charles Marsh, USFS, c/o Stone Moss Project, 400 E. Munising Ave., MI 49862 or fax to (906) 387-2070. Office hours for those who wish to hand deliver comments are 8 a.m to 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except Federal Holidays). For additional information contact Chris Williams, Zone NEPA Coordinator, (906) 474-6442 x2117.

You may also visit the Hiawatha’s website at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/projects/hiawatha/landmanagement/projects.

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