June Mountain Ski Area Vegetation Management Plan Signed

June Mountain Ski Area Vegetation Management Plan Signed
Release Date: Jun 15, 2012 Bishop, CA
Contact(s): Nancy Upham

On June 8, 2012 Jon Regelbrugge, District Ranger for the Mammoth and Mono Lake Ranger Districts of the Inyo National Forest, signed a Decision Notice and Finding of No Significant Impact to implement the Proposed Action for the June Mountain Ski Area Vegetation Management Plan. Fuels reduction, ecosystem restoration and hazard reduction work will occur within ski area permit boundaries. This project was planned under the Healthy Forest Restoration Act of 2003.

This project will implement treatments on approximately 1,157 acres within June Mountain Ski Area, which is operated under special use permit from the Inyo National Forest. Work to be performed will include tree thinning and removal, tree pruning, shrub cutting, slash chipping and/or burning and prescribed fire. The purpose of this project is to manage vegetation so potential for high severity wildfire is reduced, defensible space for ski area improvements is created, functional ecosystems are restored, and greater visitor safety is provided.

Implementation of this project will begin as soon as practical, likely during fall of 2012. Work will continue for several years until the project is completed. Forest Service employees will notify permittees and campground concessionaires and hosts before implementing treatments adjacent to facilities, and work with them to coordinate as much as possible and minimize disruption.

Electronic copies of the Decision Notice and Finding of No Significant Impact (DN/FONSI), as well as the Environmental Assessment, are available at the following internet site: http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/fs-usda-pop.php/?project=30733. Copies of the DN/FONSI and other information regarding this project may also be obtained from Scott Kusumoto, Project Leader, by calling 760-924-5522 or email skusumoto@fs.fed.us.