To the editor:
In Joe Bauman's recent column, "Dixie timber sale sparks controversy," Dixie National Forest Supervisor Hugh Thompson referred to critical comments from Ken Rait of the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance on the proposed North Slope timber sale for Boulder Mountain as "almost total drivel."Having read the sale analysis document, I wish to respond to several points.
Thompson claimed that the proposed 2 million board foot timber sale along with its new roads "will enhance big game species," "a smart way to do business," as he puts it. I suggest he take a look at the analysis he so vigorously defends, starting with its "Environmental Consequences" section.
It examines five "action alternatives" (various degrees of cutting and road building) and states that, "Harvest and post-harvest activities under all action alternatives would have the direct negative effects of reducing thermal and hiding cover, and disturbing and displacing animals." "Roads would also decrease big game habitat effectiveness."
Regarding old growth habitat critical to both game and non-game species, the analysis further states that "Cumulative effects of the action alternatives on old growth in and around the proposal area would generally be negative."
Nonetheless, we apparently shouldn't' let such doc-umented statements confuse the issue; after all, this is a project in which "wildlife habitat would be emphasized," and Mr. Thompson assures us that any skepticism is "180 degrees off."
Regarding criticism that the analysis fails to consider the wilderness potential of the proposed timber sale area, Thompson's response is, "We did consider possible wilderness." Here again, I can only suggest that he try reading the draft environmental impact statement, which lists four alternatives "eliminated from detailed study" including "Manage the proposal area for roadless properties and future wilderness consideration."
On a third matter, Mr. Thompson righteously defends the proposed sale, saying, "Wayne County is one of the most depressed counties in the state of Utah, so there is quite a bit of value to trying to get the timber to market." The analysis states that an alternative that "divides the timber sale proposal into small sales" that are suited to the numerous "sawmill operators within Wayne County who are financially limited to small sale volumes" was eliminated from study.
Thus, North Slope timber that would be cut virtually within sight of mills in "one of the most depressed counties in Utah" would be offered in one large sale in which those local mills cannot possibly compete with bigger operators from other areas, thereby essentially excluding local industry from economic gain.
William Patric
Bozeman, Mont.