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Draft Recommendations
Concerning Bluff Mountain Timber Sale to National
Forests in NC Supervisor John Ramey - May 23, 1997
BLUE RIDGE ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE LEAGUE
PO Box 88 ~ Glendale Springs, North
Carolina 28629
~ Phone
(336) 982-2691 ~ Fax (336) 982-2954 ~
Email: BREDL@skybest.com
FAX MEMO
TO: Jerry Wallin
FROM: Lou Zeller
DATE: May 28, 1997
RE: Bluff Mountain Timber Sale
The Bluff Mountain Group, 16 representatives of
government agencies, timber industry groups, and
regional environmental organizations, will submit
their recommendations this week to Forest
Supervisor Ramey in Asheville. The group has been
meeting since January at US Forest Service
offices in Asheville.
Under these recommendations, timber harvest
objectives will proceed under the existing forest
plan. All harvest methods are to be allowed and
none are prohibited, including clearcuts. The
Bluff Mountain Group's recommendations outline
minimum timber sales to be carried out in all
three compartments on Bluff, but no maximum
acreage is listed. The recommendations list areas
to be dropped from consideration at this time but
no stipulation is made for how long they will be
dropped. The 1998 timeframe may be
maintained at the expense of thorough
investigation of the alternatives including the
no cut option.
The specific recommendations from the
Bluff Mountain Group include:
1. "Schedule stands for harvest within
compartments 44, 45, and 46 to ensure a minimum
of 86 acres...."* (emphasis added)
2. 40 acres of cutting in compartment 46 (stand
28, below Lemon Gap) with consideration of
"all appropriate silvicultural
options...."*
3. 25 acres cutting in compartment 46 (stands 30
& 32, White Place) utilizing "most
appropriate silvicultural methods...."*
4. 10 acres cutting in compartment 45 (West Fork
of Shut In) to "establish trailhead parking
and coordinate skid trails...."*
5. "...designate an initial loop trail to be
added to district trail system."*
6. "Identify an additional 11 acres within
compartment 44, 45, and 46 that could be treated
to meet the objective of ·at least 86 acres of
quality early successional habitat...."*
(emphasis added)
7. "Drop units 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10,
14, and 15 in compartment 45 as described in
earlier decision."*
Process
In order to carry out these timber sales at a
lower cost, the Bluff Mountain Group
"recommends that additional public scoping
for this project is not necessary."*
The group concludes that it would be
"legally sufficient for the USFS to issue
for public comment an amendment to the existing
Bluff Mountain Environmental
Assessment."* This is contrary to the
recommendation for a full Environmental Impact
Statement by Secretary of DEHNR Jonathan Howes.
The group agrees that additional analysis can be
done in time for the timber sale to be offered
according to the original schedule in 1998.
Finally, the group "pledges to work
cooperatively" with the USFS and
"maintain a positive spirit."*
*Draft Recommendations Concerning Bluff Mountain
Timber Sale to National Forests in NC
Supervisor John Ramey - May 23,
1997
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