Once again, the Trump administration is proposing a massive logging project in Allegheny National Forest. The Corydon project calls for 2,370 acres of logging – including 1,835 acres of clearcutting (aka “Removal” and “Final Harvest” cuts) and 2,371 acres of herbicide application. 

Again, the administration is proposing massive clearcuts contravening the intent of the National Forest Management Act which limits such large clearcuts except in rare cases. The Corydon project calls for 10 clearcuts averaging 91 acres in size – with the largest being 140 acres in size. This is after the Upper Mill project calls for 16 clearcuts averaging 124 acres in size. The Madlick and Porcupine projects recently approved called for 12 clearcuts averaging 126 acres in size. That is a total of 38 clearcuts greater than 40 acres in size – affecting 4,400 total acres.

The Trump Administration continues a long illegal history of tree species manipulation in Allegheny National Forest by promoting even-aged logging methods known to produce larger amounts of black cherry trees at the expense of other native tree species. This “Silviculture for Allegheny Hardwoods” practice contravenes the legal requirement that our national forests not be managed as tree farms. It also calls for 1,201 acres of prescribed burning used to manipulate the production of commercially valuable oak trees over other native species.

Additionally the project would convert illegal ATV trails into forest roads – in what is one of the most heavily roaded national forests. These actions will lead to greater forest fragmentation and more sediment in our streams. We need to stop illegal activities – not condones them.

Other concerns include the fact that the project proposes clearcutting adjacent to a Wilderness Study Area. These actions would have an impact on the environment requiring preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement.  We know that the Trump Administration is dropping federal regulations around Environmental Impact Statements. However, federal law still requires that an Environmental Impact Statement be developed when a federal project would have a significant impact. This project clearly meets this criteria and we must demand the law be followed!

Overall, we are seeing up to 30% decline of black cherry trees within Allegheny National Forest – but the Forest Plan fails to address this. In fact, it did not anticipate this at all. A Forest Plan Revision is required to address this far reaching issue. Black cherry is the second most dominant tree making up more than 25% of the forest – despite historically only making up only 0.8% of the forest. This is the result of management activities that promote this commercially valuable tree species over other native trees. The Trump Administration cannot ignore the impacts of past harmful actions and continue to perpetuate them. All forest species manipulation needs to cease while a Forest Plan revision addresses this issue.

Public Comments are being accepted until July 1 via. They must also consider comments submitted after this date but comments before July 1 are most effective.

Richard Hatfield
Bradford Ranger District 
29 Forest Service Dr , Bradford, PA, 16701 
richard.hatfield@usda.gov

Corydon Sample Letter

Dear Ranger Hatfield,

I am writing to provide comments on the Corydon Project on the Allegheny National Forest. I am opposed to how this massive project prioritizes commercial logging and commercial tree species over native flora and fauna.

The proposal calls for 1,835 acres of clearcut logging, labeled as “shelterwood removal” cuts and “final harvests”. This overemphasis on clearcutting is not good for forest health in the Allegheny National Forest.

The proposal calls for 1,201 acres of prescribed burn. However, as you know, the best records of natural disturbance in Allegheny National Forest show that fire has never played a significant role in this forest. The use of fire to promote commercial species such as Oak over other native species compromises forest diversity.

The overemphasis on even-aged clearcut logging, including adjacent to a Wilderness Study Area, is inconsistent with the founding purpose behind the Allegheny National Forest – which is watershed protection.

The project purports to allow for massive clearcuts greater than the legally allowed 40 acres. The exceptions to allow for this are meant to be exceptions – but they are being treated as norms and this is inconsistent with the National Forest Management Act. When combined with the Madlick, Porcupine Run, and Upper Mill projects we’re looking at 38 clearcuts greater than the legal limit of 40 acres. This is no acceptable.

I do not support adding more roads to the national forest road system. Illegal ATV trails should be closed and re-seeded. The Allegheny National Forest already boasts one of the highest road densities in the national forest system. We do not need more roads as these compromise forest health through fragmentation and sediment release.

This project, at this scale, and consistent with federal law, requires an Environmental Impact Statement be done with a broad range of alternatives in order to emphasize management of the forest for better conservation and public use such as legal recreation.

This project cannot go forward when there is significant new information affecting the health of the forest which has not been addressed within a forest-wide programmatic forest plan revision. Specifically, the sudden increase in black cherry tree decline, which was not predicted or analyzed within the forest plan, needs to be addressed within a programmatic Forest Plan Environmental Impact Statement.

Sincerely,