USFS at it again , your help is needed.

[Strick9]

Many of you have followed us on the practice of the USFS destroying large stands of marketable timber and eradicating hardwoods on the FMNF as well as increasing their burning averages during the nesting and fawning season via the use of large scale aerial set firings on poor category days and late sets.

Recently upon receiving a scoping letter, it became known to me that the FMNF is looking to up their allowable acreage for yearly burning from 50k to 60k and to have their NEPA restrictions lifted allowing them to burn at will and at any time to include the Wilderness areas, the Wildlife preserve and to further push Long Leaf restoration where even their models shows it doesn't belong.

A new " Prescribed Fire adaptive Plan" has been started of which requires an Environmental assessment. An Environmental Assessment must be completed which requires public meetings. Typically these public meetings allow an open forum and public discussion and the attendance and opinion is recorded and on the record. I was just notified today that this will not be the case in this plan nor in these upcoming meetings. The only way to oppose this plan is by personal email as it seems they have found a way around the past EA requirements as to the definition of a meeting.

Further the USFS is neglecting its own goals and missions our to protect traditional culture however this plan makes no mention of hunting, nor wild game , nor of protecting the rare mature mast bearing hardwoods stands. It only speaks to more acreage, Long Leaf and fire adapted species, specifically the Red Cockaded Woodpecker.

If you would please take a second and say that you oppose this new plan.

You should send the email to : comments-southern-francismarion-sumt...rion@fs.us.gov Subject line : Prescribed fire on the Francis Marion NF.

A few points that should be included in your own words.

Opening paragraph: From recent examples of large tracts of marketable pine timber and mature mast bearing hardwoods being destroyed with the fire regime upon the Francis marion I oppose the new prescribed fire adaptive management plan.

1. That fire sets and acreages during the birthing and nesting season, notably as 3/15 - 6/15, be restricted to no greater than 5,000 acres annually or above 10% of total annual burn acreage for any given year. That growing season acreage accrual outside of 3/15-6/15 be no more than 10,000 acres or above 20% of total annual burn acreage for any given year. That dormant season burns account for the remaining 70% of the annual burn acreage for any given year. Furthermore that the 5,000 acre allocated for the aforementioned nesting period timing should only be used when absolute scrutiny has been applied as to wild game sensitivity and needed prescription.

2. That the annual burn acreage allotment be held to no more than 50,000 acres total on any given year.

3. That extra sensitivity, protection and prioritization of mast bearing hardwoods be written into the plan to include Dogwood, Holly, Oaks and Hickories.

4. That this plan in both MA1 and May2 be revised such that Wild Game and our longest running culture on the forest, hunting be noted. That also game species be noted and prioritized equal to T&E species.

6. That this plan in both MA1 and MA2 be revised such to include the protection, proper management and reintroduction of both Mesic and Xeric hardwoods to include ridges, patches, bottoms and other inclusions. That these hardwood habitats be prioritized above that of Long Leaf reintroduction being that per your own Land Management Plan this habitat is the least prevalent at only 5,800 acres of the FMNF. These species are of great importance to all wildlife fecundity and are of greater importance to a greater number of species.

7. That both NON fire adapted species and NON fire adapted habitats be equally prioritized in the plan.

8. That the term "natural fire regime" be removed entirely as studies have shown that rarely, if ever did natural fire ever occur on the same block of land with short return intervals of less than 5-10 years especially during the early growing season. To return fire within 2-3 years or shorter to the same compartments during the early growing season is not natural nor necessary. This practice also runs a greater risk of poor fire effects, damaging habitat and also destroying the marketability of timber harvest and its economic gains.

9. That eco tones, transition zones and soft edges be added to the plan as promoted and protected by not pushing fire through these areas and that all existing historical fire lines be restored and maintained.

10. That no other fire description other than "low intensity" be allowed, revised or added as to any prescribed fire description and that such remains current per existing plan.

11. That the entire acreage of a compartment be used for accruals not just the pine component. It has been noted and proven that much more than the pine component has been burnt as the result of stringing fire with the aerial sets via helicopter. Furthermore and factually proven, a prescribed burn does not simply effect just the confines of its perimeter but the entire ecosystem surrounding the burn.

12. That any wildfire acreages of a fiscal year be included as prescription accruals and subtracted against the 50,000 acre allotment.

13. That there be a revision added to the plan that restricts timber mortality and stress to less than 1% of annual acreage allotment.

14. That timber management and harvest be added to the fire priorities in both MA1 and MA2 as this practice not only produces positive economic income but also decreases fuel loads while increasing natural and available browse.

15. That the oldest culture on the FMNF is indeed hunting and that even the Forest is named after Francis Marion who hunted there and that the first win for the Wild Turkey was fought and one here.