Finding of No Significant Impact: Forest Harvesting at New Boston Air Force Station, New Hampshire.

摘要

The proposed action evaluated in this environmental assessment (EA) is to conduct forest harvesting in three locations (see attachment 1) on approximately 150-200 acres over the next two-three years, primarily during fall and winter months (September-March). Forest management practices would include the application of several silvicultural techniques designed to improve forest and wildlife habitat quality including, thinning, shelterwood and patch clearcutting (1-2 acres). The proposed action is needed to regenerate desirable forest tree species and implement the 2000 Integrated Natural Resources Management Plan at New Boston Air Force Station (NBAFS). Additionally an alternative that included clear-cutting and planting and the no-action alternative (i.e., allowing forest to mature) were also assessed in this EA. This EA evaluated the potential impacts to air quality, noise levels, topography, geology, soils, water resources, ecological resources, cultural resources, land use, recreation, visual resources socioeconomics, and health and safety. On the basis of this assessment, it was determined that the proposed action would result in only minor to negligible localized, short-term, or temporary impacts to the environment as compared to the no-action alternative. The impacts associated with the proposed action would be similar to the alternate action. The harvesting would result in a negligible to minor incremental addition to impacts that have occurred from other activities. A long-term benefit to natural resources would result from increased availability of multiple forest age classes at New Boston Air Force Station.