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Show Sidney Valley Recovery Plan Is Approved Dale Bosworth, Regional Forester of the Intermountain Region, has granted final approval for Dixie National Forest Supervisor Hugh Thompson's decision to implement the Sidney Valley Recovery Project. The purpose of the project is to minimize the loss of additional trees bark beetles, and salvage useable wood products. Thompson's initial decision to implement the project was appealed and subsequently upheld on June 9 by the Regional Forester. The appeal decision, however, also directed the Dixie National Forest to complete a survey for the Arizona Willow, a plant proposed for listing as an endangered specie. Previously thought to occur only in Apache County, Ariz., newly discovered historical information indicated that the plant might occur on the Dixie National Forest. The survey was completed in early July and revealed a healthy population of the plant within riparian areas in the project area. (See Sidney Valley Project Is Now Approved on Page 3A) Sidney Valley Project Is On From Page 1 Based on this discovery, the Forest Service reviewed the decision with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and determined that the buffer strips required in the original decision provided provided sufficient protection for the Arizona Willow. Consequently, no correction or revision of the environmental document is needed, and the project will be implemented. "I am pleased that the analysis indicates the original decision provided sufficient protection for all plants including the Arizona Willow. We are now anxious to begin treatment to address the serious insect and disease problem in the Sidney Valley Area," said Bosworth. "I hope that opponents of the project do not take court action to stall the project because additional delays will cause the loss of many more trees on public and private lands." |