ACTION ALERT: Comment on Biggest Logging Scheme in Colorado History (Threatens Endangered Species, Old-Growth Forests, and Roadless Areas)

Your comments needed by Wednesday, December 17

Last week the U.S. Forest Service proposed its latest and most destructive scheme—now the biggest logging project in Colorado history—that would log and burn over 194,000 acres (303 square miles!) of public lands. The agriculture agency is calling it the “Pikes Peak Vegetation Management and Restoration Project,” located in Douglas, El Paso, and Teller Counties on the Pike-San Isabel National Forest, about 45 miles southwest of Denver. 

This disaster is being pushed through under a controversial and unscientific “emergency” authority, which allows the Forest Service to shortcut or bypass several steps in the approval process to increase timber production. Thus, we have only until Wednesday, December 17—during the holiday season in the middle of a statewide media blackout—to comment so the agency knows the public opposes it and conservation groups can lay the ground for a potential lawsuit.

-The industrial-scale logging—which involves clearcutting and removal of large, mature trees—would negatively impact every forest type, including high-elevation subalpine spruce-fir and ancient bristlecone pine.

-Three species listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act would be adversely affected through critical habitat degradation and/or destruction: Mexican Spotted Owl, Preble’s meadow jumping mouse, and lynx.

-Four Roadless Areas are on the chopping block, with proposals to log and burn 13,300 acres.

-Unknown miles of new roads would be built, fragmenting habitat while compacting soil and causing erosion into watersheds.

-Toxic herbicides would be sprayed across nearly ¼ million acres.

The Scoping notice for the project can found here:

https://www.fs.usda.gov/r02/psicc/projects/66359

Currently, these “Big Four” schemes—Pike’s Peak, Lower North South, St. Vrain, Black Diamond—would log almost a half-million acres (474,872) of National Forests along the entire length of Colorado’s Front Range in seven counties, including 61,439 acres across seventeen Roadless Areas. All projects include clearcutting, as well as logging in endangered species habitat and mature/old-growth forests.

Instead of funding home hardening and defensible space pruning no more than 100 feet around homes—the only actions scientifically proven to protect structures from wildfire—billions of taxpayer dollars are being wasted on these ineffective (even counterproductive, as logging heats and dries forests while opening to winds which spread fire) and ecological disastrous Wildfire Pretense Logging projects.

The Forest Service has been emboldened by a complete media blackout of coverage on the “Big Four” logging schemes, and therefore limited input from the public. This is why it’s so important for you to please send in your comments, however brief, by the Wednesday, December 17 deadline.

HOW TO COMMENT:

Go to https://cara.fs2c.usda.gov/Public/CommentInput?Project=66359 and follow instructions to submit comments electronically.

Please submit your comments no later than Wednesday, December 17.

Feel free to write your comments based on any of the above points—or your own—or include the following:

-The “Pike’s Peak” project doesn’t meet the standards of “best available science” for such “fuel reduction” logging supposedly “protecting communities” or “reducing high-severity wildfire.”

-Ask that the project be canceled and all funding routed towards grants for home hardening and defensible space pruning no more than 100 feet around homes.

Many thanks to those of you who take action. If you do submit comments, please let us know by emailing eia@eco-integrityalliance.org or contact us for further details about the project or how to get further involved in protecting our last best ecosystems on public lands.